Drew Stafford re-signs with the Winnipeg Jets

Initial Report

Per a tweet from Drew Stafford’s agent Scott Bartlett, the pending UFA forward is “closing in on a deal to remain a Winnipeg Jet” (sic).

The forward, initially acquired from Buffalo as part of the Evander Kane trade, is set to become an unrestricted free agent tomorrow, on July 1st.

In 26 regular season games with the Jets, Stafford tallied 19 points (9 goals, 10 assists). In the 4 playoff games the Jets played, Stafford scored 1 goal and 1 assist.

For his career, Stafford has 341 points (154 goals, 187 assists) in 589 regular season games.

Stafford is coming off of a 4 year, $16.0 million dollar contract, and will turn 30 during the 2015-16 NHL season.

More to come, as developments warrant 

Update 1

Per Craig Custance of ESPN.com, it’s a 2 year contract between Drew Stafford and the Winnipeg Jets.

Update 2

Per Elliotte Friedman, it’s a 2 year, $8.7 million dollar contract for Drew Stafford with the Jets. Salary cap hit of $4.35 million per season.

Update 3

The Winnipeg Jets have officially confirmed that Drew Stafford has been re-signed to a 2 year, $8.7 million dollar contract extension.

Here is the official release from the Jets:

JETS AGREE TO TERMS WITH DREW STAFFORD

The Winnipeg Jets are pleased to announce they have re-signed unrestricted forward Drew Stafford on two-year contract with an average annual value of $4.35 million.

Stafford, 29, was acquired by the Jets in a trade on Feb. 11, 2015 that also brought Tyler Myers, Joel Armia, Brendan Lemieux and a 2015 first-round pick (Jack Roslovic) from Buffalo in exchange for Zach Bogosian, Evander Kane and Jason Kasdorf.

Stafford had 18 goals and 25 assists for 43 points in 76 games last season including nine goals and 19 points in 26 games after being acquired by Winnipeg. Stafford led all Jets with a season-high nine game point streak from Mar. 12-29, 2015. The native of Faribault, MN spent the previous eight seasons in Buffalo after being drafted by the Sabres in the first round, 13^th over-all in 2004. He had a career-high 31 goals with Buffalo in 2010-11.  In 589 career NHL games, Stafford has 154 goals and 341 points.

Prior to playing professional hockey, Stafford attended the University of North Dakota and won a gold medal with the United States at the 2004 World Junior Championship.

#12-Drew Stafford

Right Wing

Born: Oct. 30 1985  — Milwaukee, WI

Height 6.02 — Weight 214 — Shoots R

                                            — Regular Season —  —- Playoffs —-

Season   Team                        Lge    GP    G    A  Pts  PIM  GP   G   A Pts PIM

————————————————————————————–

2003-04  U. of North Dakota          WCHA   36   11   21   32   30

2004-05  U. of North Dakota          WCHA   40   13   22   35   34

2005-06  U. of North Dakota          WCHA   42   24   24   48   63

2006-07  Rochester Americans         AHL    34   22   22   44   30  —  —  —  —  —

2006-07  Buffalo Sabres              NHL    41   13   14   27   33  10   2   2   4   4

2007-08  Buffalo Sabres              NHL    64   16   22   38   51  —  —  —  —  —

2008-09  Buffalo Sabres              NHL    79   20   25   45   29  —  —  —  —  —

2009-10  Buffalo Sabres              NHL    71   14   20   34   35   3   0   0   0   0

2010-11  Buffalo Sabres              NHL    62   31   21   52   34   7   1   2   3   2

2011-12  Buffalo Sabres              NHL    80   20   30   50   46  —  —  —  —  —

2012-13  Buffalo Sabres              NHL    46    6   12   18   21  —  —  —  —  —

2013-14  Buffalo Sabres              NHL    70   16   18   34   39  —  —  —  —  —

2014-15  Buffalo Sabres              NHL    50    9   15   24   39  —  —  —  —  —

2014-15  Winnipeg Jets               NHL    26    9   10   19    8   4   1   1   2   0

————————————————————————————–

         NHL Totals                        589  154  187  341  335  24   4   5   9   6