Winnipeg Jets Sign Two Depth Forwards

The Winnipeg Jets have signed forwards Cole Koepke and Tanner Pearson to one-year contracts with identical annual average values of $1,000,000.

The two wingers will add veteran depth to the Winnipeg Jets and potentially play important leadership roles with the Manitoba Moose, the Jets’ American Hockey League affiliate.

Koepke, 27, was a sixth-round (183rd overall) NHL Draft Selection by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. He played the 2024-25 season with the Boston Bruins, posting 17 points (10G, 7A) in 73 games played, all of which are career highs. He has 20 points (11G, 9A) in 99 career NHL games and has never suited up for NHL playoff action.

He spent parts of four seasons in the AHL with the Syracuse Crunch, Tampa Bay’s AHL affiliate. The Two Harbors, Minnesota-born forward spent three seasons playing for the University of Minnesota-Duluth and the two seasons before that with the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL.

Pearson, 32, brings Stanley Cup-winning experience to the Jets’ lineup. He most recently played with the Vegas Golden Knights, posting 27 points (12G, 15A) in 78 games. He’s suited up for the Montreal Canadiens, Vancouver Canucks, Pittsburgh Penguins, and the team where he won a Stanley Cup, the Los Angeles Kings.

The Kitchener, Ontario-born forward has played 15 seasons in the NHL since being drafted 30th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. He’s posted 312 points (150G, 162A) in 722 career NHL games and has added 24 points (9G, 15A) in 59 career NHL playoff games.