New Jets forward Gabe Vilardi has found his way to Winnipeg.
He hasn't quite figured out his vehicle situation yet - or a winter jacket for that matter - but new Winnipeg Jets forward Gabe Vilardi has officially made his way to Manitoba.
"Yeah, I’ve got a place to live, and I’m already sorted out," the 24-year-old Jets forward told reporters from the Hockey For All Centre. "Everything has been good. I’ve only been here for a few days, guys, I don’t have much to tell you yet."
"I can tell you that the Bonfire Bistro is a good place to eat, but that’s about it."
Yes, staffers at the Corydon Avenue Italian eatery will certainly get to know Vilardi's face over the coming season, as the now River Heights resident begins checking out some local establishments.
Coming over to Winnipeg in the mid-summer blockbuster that sent Pierre-Luc Dubois to Los Angeles, Vilardi knows Winnipeg is nothing like California, but that won't stop him from catching some rays at the beach over Labour Day weekend.
"I'm actually interested in checking out Lake Winnipeg," he said, when discussing his long weekend plans.
As a matter of fact, Vilardi didn't even know it was already the annual September holiday.
Rightly so, as his summer schedule has flip-flopped more than once, and his head has been solely on hockey for at least the past four days.
Having arrived in Winnipeg on Monday, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound centre took to the ice with True North's Dave Cameron for some one-on-one skating sessions, before suiting up with a number of local youngsters for some semi-organized morning skates the past number of days.
"Yeah, today I shouldn’t have skated, to be honest," a gassed Vilardi said before delving into some more important information.
As one of the only Jets players already in town (Adam Lowry, who showed up on Friday) Vilardi has been on his own when it comes to workouts. But that is nothing new for the Kingston product.
"Unfortunately there are not many guys (at home)", so I spend the summer skating on my own," he said. "It's just me and my skills coach once in a while. So that’s part of the reason why I'm coming in early... Hopefully more guys start to come in, so I can get some more fast-paced skates and scrimmages to get more comfy and prepared for the season."
Having spent the offseason back at his family home in Ontario, Vilardi did have some time on his hands to look into his new team and teammates.
But clearly he didn't use a fine-tooth comb.
When asked the importance of an NHL team needing a captain, Vilardi appeared perplexed, before chalking up quite the sound-byte.
"Does a team need a captain?" he asked. "I thought Scheifele was the captain."
He was quickly informed that Mark Scheifele was one of the Jets' alternates last year.
"Oh is that right. I didn’t even know. That gives you my answer."
"I don’t think you need a captain," Vilardi added. "Different leaders and different ways. Everyone can kind of lead by example."
Having spent four seasons in the NHL, Vilardi has known just Anze Kopitar as his lone captain figure. Calling his former leader "calm", Vilardi will likely see similar characteristics in his next captain, as one of Josh Morrissey or Adam Lowry is expected to next earn the 'C' in Winnipeg.
As to what his new teammates should expect of him? Simple, says Vilardi. "I’m a hard-working guy; that’s just kind of the mindset."
"I come in day in and day out and just work hard," he continued. "Hopefully good things happen. If not, you can say you worked hard. That’s my mindset."
In 63 games last year, Vilardi had 23 goals and 41 points. But having spent his entire career in Los Angeles, from draft day to his final game, he has since transitioned to a brand new colour scheme for 2023-24.
It hasn't quite sunk in yet.
"I haven’t worn the game jersey yet," he said when asked about donning the Jets crest. "I’m sure it will be weird the first few games, but I mean that’s part of coming in early too, getting comfy as fast as I can. I feel like I have a good routine. I think that’s very important. It’ll be weird at the start, but it is what it is."
For now, it's a weekend off the ice to soak up the final bit of summer sun on the shores of Lake Winnipeg.