Gabe Vilardi, the newest member of the Winnipeg Jets, is set for a return to his home country.
The Winnipeg Jets will have a new look on offence in 2023-24. That will likely start with centreman-turned-winger Gabe Vilardi.
Acquired in a Tuesday afternoon trade with Los Angeles, Vilardi joins the Jets alongside former Kings teammates Alex Iafallo and Rasmus Kupari. The three players - alongside a 2024 second round draft pick - went to Winnipeg in exchange for centre Pierre-Luc Dubois.
On Wednesday morning, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound forward met with local media in his first availability as a member of the Jets.
"I’m excited," he said. "I’m really excited to be back in Canada."
The Kingston, ON. product spent his youth playing hockey within Ontario, and then transitioned to the Ontario Hockey League for his major junior career. He began alongside current Jets teammate Logan Stanley with the Windsor Spitfires, before joining his hometown Frontenacs as his junior career came to a close.
He was drafted by the Kings and spent parts of four seasons within the organization, bouncing between the American Hockey League's Ontario Reign and the Kings. Last year he had 23 goals and 41 points in 63 regular season games, before scoring twice and adding another two helpers in five postseason contests.
"I’d be lying not to say, but in L.A., they’re not big hockey fans out there," he laughed. "Obviously, they have the Kings fans there that come to the games and are loyal. But it’s different being in Canada. You do miss it. It’s always cool when you play in Canada on the road. So now I’ll be playing in Canada all the time. It’s definitely pretty cool."
The past week has been an interesting one for the 23-year-old. Although not one to poke his nose around social media, Vilardi did say he caught wind of the trade a few days prior to the hammer dropping, but it was mainly through friends and family checking in via text.
"I don’t have social media, I kind of stay off of that stuff," he said. "For the most part, just people texting me like, ‘Hey, what’s going on?’ Just answering truthfully, ‘I don’t know. I don’t know.’ I’m getting information from people texting me at the same time. I just keep doing what I normally do.”
But that's Gabe Vilardi the hockey player. What about Gabe Vilardi the person?
"It’s weird," he said when asked by The Hockey News.
"It’s a lot of thinking and obviously trying not to - well, you can’t not think about it. So it’s kind of weird, but you just don’t dwell on anything, don’t be mad or sad or anything. It’s just part of the business at the end of the day. You go where you’re wanted. They got Dubois, he’s obviously a really good player. We go the other way, we go to Winnipeg. I’m excited. It’s just part of the business like they say. I’m going to Winnipeg, I’m excited, and hopefully I can help the Winnipeg Jets get better."
Known for his flexibility between centre and the wing, Vilardi says he hasn't yet had a chance to speak with Cheveldayoff or Bowness on where the duo are expecting him to slate in. But says he will be ready for whatever challenge lies ahead.
"I played a bit of both last year," Vilardi said. "Played in the playoffs at centre. That’s another good thing that I got from my time in LA. They had a bunch of centres and they had centre prospects, so they moved me to the wing and I kind of learned to play both. Wherever they want me, I’ll play. I just want to help the team however that is. I feel comfortable in both positions.”
So far, he's saying all the right things.
As for his second time being an restricted free agent, well, the 2017 11th overall pick says the process is all out of his hands.
“A little different this year," he reflected. "Obviously last year it wasn’t much negotiation. It was just here, take this. And then, thank you. Obviously this year’s a little different because of my season. But there wasn’t much from L.A. Now, just moving forward, the Jets traded for me so obviously they want me. I want to be there, I’m excited. Hopefully we can get something done here soon. I think for the most part, it’s just my agent. I don’t really know much.”