A look at the UFAs and RFAs for the Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose this summer

This list would have been more expansive if Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff would have held himself to the same standard he set during the 2023-24 campaign when he didn’t want to upset the applecart and chose not to sign any of his UFAs during the season. During the 2024-25 season he chose to sign three guys who were scheduled to become free agents on July 1st. He signed Vlad Namestnikov to a two-year extension, Alex Iafallo to a three-year contract and most recently inked Neal Pionk to a six-year deal.

With the NHL Draft still over a month away (worth noting Winnipeg will pick 28th overall) we look at the unrestricted free agents and restricted free agents in the Jets system.

According to PuckPedia the Jets have 17 players under contact for the 2024-25 campaign which means there are a number of UFAs and RFAs that will be in need of new contracts either with Winnipeg or with new NHL/AHL teams or a team overseas. Included in brackets is their 2024-25 cap hit in the NHL and AHL via PuckPedia.

Unrestricted free agents (UFAs):

Nikolaj Ehlers ($6,000,000)
Mason Appleton ($2,166,667)
Brandon Tanev ($3,500,000)
Dominic Toninato ($775,000)
Haydn Fleury ($775,000)
Chris Driedger ($795,000)

Restricted free agents (RFAs):

Gabriel Vilardi ($3,437,500) (arbitration eligible)
Morgan Barron ($1,350,000) (arbitration eligible)
Rasmus Kupari ($1,000,000) (arbitration eligible)
Dylan Samberg ($1,400,000) (arbitration eligible)

There are also a number of players on the Moose or are a non-roster player who will also be in need of new deals including:

Unrestricted free agents (UFAs):

Axel Jonsson-Fjallby ($775,000)
Dylan Coghlan ($775,000)

Restricted free agents (RFAs):

Parker Ford ($867,000)
Mason Shaw ($775,000)
Kristian Vesalainen ($894,167)(last cap hit from 2022)
Simon Lundmark (775,000) (arbitration eligible)
Isaak Phillips ($775,000) (arbitration eligible)
Tyrel Bauer ($850,000)

* The first player to sign overseas was Axel Jonsson-Fjallby who signed a three-year deal to play in the Swedish Hockey League with Brynäs IF.