Jets, Samberg agree to terms on three-year deal

Opinion

On the surface, this looks like the epitome of a compromise.

By avoiding Wednesday’s arbitration hearing in Toronto and the shrapnel it may have included, the Winnipeg Jets and Dylan Samberg found a happy medium, agreeing to terms on a three-year deal that carries an average annual value of US$5.75 million.

With the Jets avoiding a one-year award for Samberg that could have walked him to unrestricted free agency next summer, this should be characterized as an important development.

Since the two sides agreed to a term of less than six-to-eight years, many observers will stop short of saying it’s an undisputed victory for Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and company and there are plenty of valid reasons for that particular viewpoint.

Provided Samberg’s career trajectory follows what we saw last season, his next deal is going to cost even more, especially with a salary cap that is on the rise.

The eight-year term won’t be available under the terms of the next collective bargaining agreement either, though the Jets would probably be less inclined to offer it at 29 than they might have at Samberg’s current age of 26 — with someone squarely entering his prime.

There’s an easy argument to be made for locking Samberg in at somewhere between US$6.15-to-$6.5 million for seven or eight years, given the role he plays and the skill set he brings to the table.

Assigning value to high-end shutdown defenders who don’t produce a pile of points is something that still falls under the category of a work in progress for most NHL teams, which is probably the biggest reason this negotiation went right down to the wire.

As mentioned previously, the gold standard in this category is Carolina Hurricanes blue-liner Jaccob Slavin, who is about to begin an eight-year deal with an average annual value (AAV) of US$6.396 million at the age of 31.

Vladislav Gavrikov plays a similar style and inked a seven-year deal this summer worth $US7 million per season with the New York Rangers at the age of 29 (though he turns 30 in November).

Another point of reference is Tampa Bay Lightning D-man Erik Cernak, who is entering the third year of an eight-year pact that has an AAV of $5.2 million at age 28.

It’s important to remember the aforementioned deals are part of a moving target, thanks to the influx of available dollars on the open market and more teams being willing to sign contracts based on projections instead of past performance.

Samberg has a salary of US$4.25 million in the first year of the deal, while that number increases to $6.5 million during the final two, when the Jets essentially bought two UFA years.

The two sides can also get back to the negotiating table before the deal expires in the summer of 2028, since there is still an appetite for a long-term pact from both parties.

This move clearly extends the competitive window for a Jets team with a core featuring plenty of key cogs in their early 30s.

Samberg’s emergence as a second pairing defenceman who can handle the toughest matchups against the most skilled players last season was a massive development for the Jets, who allowed Brenden Dillon to walk in free agency 12 months ago.

During his first season playing regularly on the second pair with partner Neal Pionk, Samberg had an outstanding campaign, producing a career-high six goals and 20 points in 60 games while providing high-end defensive play.

Chosen in the second round (43rd overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft, Samberg’s progression suggests he’s got the potential to grow into a foundational pillar.

He’s a fearless shot-blocker with good mobility, excellent hockey sense and an innate ability to kill plays.

Samberg was leaned on heavily at five-on-five and is an integral member of the penalty kill.

During the 22 games he missed with a fractured foot he suffered by blocking a blistering one-timer from Steven Stamkos, Samberg’s absence was felt.

That’s another reason the Jets couldn’t afford to risk losing Samberg next summer.

The organizational depth for top-4 players on the left side is thin beyond Josh Morrissey and Samberg, at least until 2025 first-rounder Sascha Boumedienne is set to turn pro.

For Samberg, taking a mid-range deal carries an element of risk as well, but he’s chosen to bet on himself while also earning a significant raise from the US$1.4 million AAV he made on his previous deal.

By the time his next deal kicks in, Samberg won’t yet be 30, so he’s tracking for another significant payday.

During the next three seasons, the two-time NCAA Frozen Four champion has the opportunity to cement his growing reputation and take further steps in his development process.

In the meantime, another homegrown player shows he’s fully invested in what the Jets are building and isn’t in a rush to see what unrestricted free agency might bring.

Samberg was the final restricted free agent for Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and company to sign this summer and the framework of this deal leaves the Jets with just under US$4 million of cap space according to PuckPedia, with a full 23-man roster.

The Jets were able to get new deals done for all three players who filed for arbitration but never made it to a hearing: Samberg and forwards Gabe Vilardi and Morgan Barron.

That means Cheveldayoff will continue the process of looking for extensions for captain Adam Lowry and sniper Kyle Connor, both of whom are eligible to become unrestricted free agents on July 1 of 2026.

With nine defencemen on one-way contracts to go along with prospect Elias Salomonsson and depth blue-liner Kale Clague pushing for work, the Jets could be looking to make a trade — though the heavy lifting was taken care of in the wee hours of Wednesday morning as the Samberg deal was crossed off Cheveldayoff’s to-do list.

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

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