On Friday we learned that Gabriel Vilardi had signed a six-year deal with Winnipeg to remain with the Jets for the foreseeable future. Today we had an opportunity to hear from the Kingston product on why the fit makes sense for him.
Vilardi was the key part to the Pierre-Luc Dubois trade that the Jets and Kings made back in late June of 2023. He signed a two-year deal with Winnipeg a few weeks later. He’s played 118 regular season games in a Jets jersey compiling 49 goals and 48 assists for 97 points. His usage on the first power play unit was a big part of why it was the most successful power play in the entire NHL last season.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
He along with Dylan Samberg were the two big RFAs for the Jets this summer. Both filed for arbitration which meant that this negotiation (provided the two sides could reach common ground) wouldn’t drag out all summer.
So why Winnipeg for that long?
“I’ve been here two years now and I love it in Winnipeg. I think the opportunity for us to win, in our window here of four or five years is something that I’m very excited about and I want to be a part of. And I love Winnipeg. It’s a great spot. It feels like home to me. The fans, the team, the organization and everybody has welcomed me to Winnipeg since I’ve been there and it’s been great so made a pretty easy decision for me.”
He was asked if there was one thing, a moment, that he could remember that convinced him to stay long term?
“I wouldn’t say it’s moments. It’s just the whole kinda experience. Like I said, just the environment being in Winnipeg. I’m from Kingston. Very, I think, similar in a lot of ways. So it’s kinda always had that home feel for me. Me and my girlfriend Megan we’ve kinda grown to love Winnipeg and it feels like home to us now. It’s not really any moment or something like that but just the people, whether that’s the fans, my teammates, people that work within the Jets organization. Everyone’s just been super kind and welcoming. Very homey.”
Vilardi was asked about the nature of the negotiations between his agent and the Jets. While it sounds like he didn’t play a significant role (aside from approving the deal and signing on the dotted line) again he reiterated how happy he was to remain in Winnipeg with the Jets.
“…from the end of the season, whenever I started thinking about this stuff, it was never in any questions for me. I always wanted to be back in Winnipeg so it was important that we got it done….how it played out was almost inevitable.”
He added that he was happy the two sides avoided arbitration.
If you’re a Manitoban then you know what this province is all about. We get all four seasons and while the winters aren’t as extreme as they used to be it still gets colder than all the other NHL cities. So Vilardi shared the perception vs reality of coming to Winnipeg as a visiting player against the knowledge of someone who lives in Winnipeg.
Jets winger Gabriel Vilardi discussing the perception vs reality of Winnipeg.
Gives insight as a former visiting player vs now.
Bottom line focus for him is on becoming the best player he can be and the opportunity to win in Manitoba.
Full chat:https://t.co/ILkcnpsjOj pic.twitter.com/WSQiTErfFn
— Dave Minuk (@ICdave) July 21, 2025
Key to what Vilardi said it a chance to win which he feels this group can do for the next four to five years.
“That was a big factor. I’ve mentioned it a few times that I think our window is four, five years here and I think we’ve got a really good shot. I want to be a part of it, I’m super excited to keep growing as an individual, to keep growing as a team and I think our mindset is win now and we have the team to do it.”
Helps when you add a three-time Stanley Cup champ in Jonathan Toews.
“…he’s won three Cups. He knows what it takes. I think it’s good for us in the locker room, on the ice…”
The slogan moves on from Patrik Laine’s ‘Winnipeg is Good’ to ‘I love it in Winnipeg’ by Gabriel Vilardi. Hope the Weakerthans don’t mind the name change of their classic song.
