The Winnipeg Jets are currently engaging in ongoing contract negotiations with restricted free agent Gabriel Vilardi, according to David Pagnotta.
Pagnotta of The Fourth Period took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share the report. "The Winnipeg Jets are engaged in ongoing contract negotiations with pending RFA Gabe Vilardi, who is arbitration eligible. Still early in the process, but talks well underway."
Vilardi signed a two-year, $3,437,500 AAV contract with the Jets after he was traded from the Los Angeles Kings as part of the package which sent Pierre-Luc Dubois the other way. His two seasons with the Jets have seen him score 49 goals and 97 points in 118 games.
The 25-year-old has also become one of the most important forwards on the roster. He's perfectly complemented Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor on the top line and has added the missing element to the Jets' power play, which is a net-front presence. Vilardi is capable of screening the goalie and deflecting pucks, but he can also use his playmaking to open up lanes when given the puck around the red line.
To date, there have been no rumours about a possible offer sheet to Vilardi, and general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has given no reason to believe a contract won't be handed out very soon. At the moment, the Jets are preparing to offer Nikolaj Ehlers an extension, but are also planning for a scenario where he signs elsewhere. Once the Jets know the future of their 2014 ninth overall pick, the organization will likely conduct their business with their pending RFAs.
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In Vilardi's case, the Jets haven't mentioned whether they'd like to lock him up to a long-term contract or a shorter-term one just yet, but the cap hit could come in around $7-million.
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