Sports

Jets, Gabriel Vilardi agree to 2-year, $6.875M deal: Why the contract makes sense for both sides

Published

1 year ago

July 20, 2023

The Winnipeg Jets and forward Gabriel Vilardi agreed to terms on a two-year contract Wednesday, avoiding arbitration. Here’s what you need to know:

The deal carries an average annual value of $3.4375 million.
Vilardi was acquired by Winnipeg in last month’s trade with the Kings for center Pierre-Luc Dubois.
The 23-year-old, who was a restricted free agent and filed for arbitration earlier this month, tallied 41 points in 63 games for L.A. last season.

CONFIRMED ???? pic.twitter.com/QEuAvkUVF5

— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) July 19, 2023

The Athletic’s instant analysis:

The importance of signing this deal before arbitration

Put yourself in Vilardi’s shoes for a moment. You’re 23 years old and just put together a 23-goal, 41-point season — the best of your young career — before getting shipped from Los Angeles to Winnipeg as the centerpiece of the Kings’ package for Dubois. Would you really want your first Jets contract to be signed through arbitration, after hearing Jets management argue why you’re not worth the raise you deserve? Avoiding arbitration was important for Winnipeg and Vilardi to get off on the right foot. Both parties knew it and this contract should not be a surprise. — Ates

This contract makes sense for Vilardi

There are fans who will look at Vilardi’s two-year contract term and worry: Is it too short? I can understand that perspective — he’s a quality player, turns 24 this August, and Winnipeg could really use some long-term security after Dubois’ early exit, the Blake Wheeler buyout, and the possibility that Connor Hellebuyck and Mark Scheifele are also moved this season. That said, I like the two-year term for Vilardi and the Jets, too.

Vilardi will get two years to get familiar with the Jets’ city and the organization before making any long-term commitments. He’ll try to use his 41-point breakout season as starting point for bigger production, continued health, and a solidified role in Winnipeg’s top six. Most of all, he’ll see what Winnipeg has to offer and learn whether or not he sees himself as a long-term fit — and that feeling takes time to develop. — Ates

Why this deal works for Winnipeg

From Winnipeg’s perspective, the two-year term protects against an early UFA exit.

Had Vilardi signed for three years, his contract would end in 2026 — one year before his earliest eligibility for unrestricted free agency. At that time, all he’d need to do to become a 2027 UFA would have been filing for arbitration, guaranteeing a one-year contract. Vilardi’s two-year deal protects Winnipeg against that outcome, giving the Jets two opportunities to sign him long term: 2025, when this contract ends, and again in 2026 if they go short term in 2025. It’s a bit convoluted but it’s the sort of thing you have to pay attention to in Winnipeg, given Dubois’ exit and given the other players who have fast-tracked their way to UFA status in recent years. — Ates

Gabriel Vilardi took a big step forward last season and his bridge deal should be a bargain for the Jets over the next two seasons. pic.twitter.com/FRm1IVVCl9

— dom ???? (@domluszczyszyn) July 19, 2023

What does this mean for Winnipeg’s salary cap?

The Jets project to start the season with approximately $3.8 million in cap space with 13 forwards, seven defensemen and two goalies under contract. This is plenty of space with which to work: The Jets aren’t in LTIR anymore and will build cap space throughout the season. If Hellebuyck and Scheifele were signed long-term at their current cap hits, you might even argue the Jets were in good position to be buyers at the trade deadline.

We all know that’s not the case: Hellebuyck and Scheifele’s futures remain uncertain, even if we now expect both players to start the season in Winnipeg. (The Jets also still need to sign Logan Stanley, Rasmus Kupari and Declan Chisholm. Those signings will eventually necessitate a player being sent to the minors; Winnipeg should have plenty of cap space to start the season.) — Ates

What comes next?

The added cap space helps Winnipeg if the Jets want to make additions this season in the name of chasing immediate-term success. It also helps if the Jets end up trading Hellebuyck and Scheifele mid-season.

By the trade deadline, rival teams’ needs will be more clear and Winnipeg will have paid most of Hellebuyck and Scheifele’s cap hits. If the Jets are not contenders, the added cap space will open up options by trade, whether in terms of retaining cap hit to increase trade returns or by taking back quality players whose cap hits are less than ideal. Whatever the end route, flexibility helps Winnipeg work — especially this season, before the cap increases next summer.

In the short term, the Jets will sort out Kupari, Stanley and Chisholm’s futures. They might find a way to clear some space on their crowded blue line. They’ll definitely address Hellebuyck and Scheifele’s futures, but perhaps without immediate clarity, just by bringing them to camp. There’s no rebuild on the near horizon; the Jets will try to navigate all of this uncertainty in a way that keeps them in the playoff mix. — Ates

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Sports

Red Wings sign Moritz Seider to 7-year deal worth nearly $60M

Published

4 hours ago

September 19, 2024

Anne Joseph

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Red Wings made another investment this week in a young standout, signing Moritz Seider to a seven-year contract worth nearly $60 million.

The Red Wings announced the move with the 23-year-old German defenseman on Thursday, three days after keeping 22-year-old forward Lucas Raymond with a $64.6 million, eight-year deal.

Detroit drafted Seider with the No. 6 pick overall eight years ago and he has proven to be a great pick. He has 134 career points, the most by a defenseman drafted in 2019.

He was the NHL’s only player to have at least 200 hits and block 200-plus shots last season, when he scored a career-high nine goals and had 42 points for the second straight year.

Seider won the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie in 2022 after he had a career-high 50 points.

Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman is banking on Seider, whose contract will count $8.55 million annually against the cap, and Raymond to turn a rebuilding team into a winner.

Detroit has failed to make the playoffs in eight straight seasons, the longest postseason drought in franchise history.

The Red Wings, who won four Stanley Cups from 1997 to 2008, have been reeling since their run of 25 straight postseasons ended in 2016.

Detroit was 41-32-9 last season and finished with a winning record for the first time since its last playoff appearance.

Yzerman re-signed Patrick Kane last summer and signed some free agents, including Vladimir Tarasenko to a two-year contract worth $9.5 million after he helped the Florida Panthers hoist the Cup.

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AP NHL:

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Veterans Tyson Beukeboom, Karen Paquin lead Canada’s team at WXV rugby tournament

Published

5 hours ago

September 19, 2024

Anne Joseph

Veterans Tyson Beukeboom and Karen Paquin will lead Canada at the WXV 1 women’s rugby tournament starting later this month in the Vancouver area.

WXV 1 includes the top three teams from the Women’s Six Nations (England, France and Ireland) and the top three teams from the Pacific Four Series (Canada, New Zealand, and the United States).

Third-ranked Canada faces No. 4 France, No. 7 Ireland and No. 1 England in the elite division of the three-tiered WXV tournament that runs Sept. 29 to Oct. 12 in Vancouver and Langley, B.C. No. 2 New Zealand and the eighth-ranked U.S. make up the six-team WVX 1 field.

“Our preparation time was short but efficient. This will be a strong team,” Canada coach Kevin Rouet said in a statement. “All the players have worked very hard for the last couple of weeks to prepare for WXV and we are excited for these next three matches and for the chance to play on home soil here in Vancouver against the best rugby teams in the world.

“France, Ireland and England will each challenge us in different ways but it’s another opportunity to test ourselves and another step in our journey to the Rugby World Cup next year.”

Beukeboom serves as captain in the injury absence of Sophie de Goede. The 33-year-old from Uxbridge, Ont., earned her Canadian-record 68th international cap in Canada’s first-ever victory over New Zealand in May at the Pacific Four Series.

Twenty three of the 30 Canadian players selected for WXV 1 were part of that Pacific Four Series squad.

Rouet’s roster includes the uncapped Asia Hogan-Rochester, Caroline Crossley and Rori Wood.

Hogan-Rochester and Crossley were part of the Canadian team that won rugby sevens silver at the Paris Olympics, along with WXV teammates Fancy Bermudez, Olivia Apps, Alysha Corrigan and Taylor Perry. Wood is a veteran of five seasons at UBC.

The 37-year-old Paquin, who has 38 caps for Canada including the 2014 Rugby World Cup, returns to the team for the first time since the 2021 World Cup.

Canada opens the tournament Sept. 29 against France at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver before facing Ireland on Oct. 5 at Willoughby Stadium at Langley Events Centre, and England on Oct. 12 at B.C. Place.

The second-tier WXV 2 and third-tier WXV 3 are slated to run Sept. 27 to Oct. 12, in South Africa and Dubai, respectively.

WXV 2 features Australia, Italy, Japan, Scotland, South Africa and Wales while WXV 3 is made up of Fiji, Hong Kong, Madagascar, the Netherlands, Samoa and Spain.

The tournament has 2025 World Cup qualification implications, although Canada, New Zealand and France, like host England, had already qualified by reaching the semifinals of the last tournament.

Ireland, South Africa, the U.S., Japan, Fiji and Brazil have also booked their ticket, with the final six berths going to the highest-finishing WXV teams who have not yet qualified through regional tournaments.

Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team WXV 1 Squad

Forwards

Alexandria Ellis, Ottawa, Stade Français Paris (France); Brittany Kassil, Guelph, Ont., Guelph Goats; Caroline Crossley, Victoria, Castaway Wanderers; Courtney Holtkamp, Rimbey, Alta., Red Deer Titans Rugby; DaLeaka Menin, Vulcan, Alta., Exeter Chiefs (England); Emily Tuttosi, Souris, Man., Exeter Chiefs (England); Fabiola Forteza, Quebec City, Stade Bordelais (France); Gabrielle Senft, Regina, Saracens (England); Gillian Boag, Calgary, Gloucester-Hartpury (England); Julia Omokhuale, Calgary, Leicester Tigers (England); Karen Paquin, Quebec City, Club de rugby de Quebec; Laetitia Royer, Loretteville, Que., ASM Romagnat (France); McKinley Hunt, King City, Ont., Saracens (England); Pamphinette Buisa, Gatineau, Que., Ottawa Irish; Rori Wood, Sooke, B.C., College Rifles RFC; Sara Cline, Edmonton, Leprechaun Tigers; Tyson Beukeboom, Uxbridge, Ont., Ealing Trailfinders (England);

Backs

Alexandra Tessier, Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, Que., Exeter Chiefs (England); Alysha Corrigan, Charlottetown, P.E.I., CRFC; Asia Hogan-Rochester, Toronto, Toronto Nomads; Claire Gallagher, Caledon, Ont., Leicester Tigers (England); Fancy Bermudez, Edmonton, Saracens (England); Julia Schell, Uxbridge, Ont., Ealing Trailfinders (England); Justine Pelletier, Rivière-du-Loup, Que, Stade Bordelais (France); Mahalia Robinson, Fulford, Que., Town of Mount Royal RFC; Olivia Apps, Lindsay, Ont., Lindsay RFC; Paige Farries, Red Deer, Alta., Saracens (England); Sara Kaljuvee, Ajax, Ont., Westshore RFC; Shoshanah Seumanutafa, White Rock, B.C., Counties Manukau (New Zealand); Taylor Perry, Oakville, Ont., Exeter Chiefs (England).

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Follow @NeilMDavidson on X platform, formerly known as Twitter

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 18, 2024.

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Sports

Vancouver Canucks star goalie Thatcher Demko working through rare muscle injury

Published

5 hours ago

September 19, 2024

Anne Joseph

PENTICTON, B.C. – Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko says he’s been working his way back from a rare lower-body muscle injury since being sidelined in last season’s playoffs.

The 28-year-old all star says the rehabilitation process has been frustrating, but he has made good progress in recent weeks and is confident he’ll be able to return to playing.

He says he and his medical team have spent the last few months talking to specialists around the world, and have not found a single other hockey player who has dealt with the same injury.

Demko missed several weeks of the last season with a knee ailment and played just one game in Vancouver’s playoff run last spring before going down with the current injury.

He was not on the ice with his teammates as the Canucks started training camp in Penticton, B.C., on Thursday, but skated on his own before the sessions began.

Demko posted a 35-14-2 record with a .918 percentage, a 2.45 goals-against average and five shutouts for Vancouver last season.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.

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