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Gabriel Vilardi signs $45 million contract extension with Winnipeg Jets

Gabriel Vilardi warming up prior to Game 5 against the St. Louis Blues in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Gabriel Vilardi warming up prior to Game 5 against the St. Louis Blues in the 2025 Stanley Cup PlayoffsCameron Bartlett/Getty Images/AFP
The Winnipeg Jets and forward Gabriel Vilardi (25) agreed to a six-year, $45 million contract on Friday to avoid an arbitration hearing.

Vilardi posted a career-best 27 goals and 34 assists last season for the Presidents Trophy-winning Jets

The Ontario native has now scored 20+ goals in the past three straight seasons, while his 34 assists weren't only a career-high, but it was more than his previous two seasons combined (32).

The former 11th overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft was traded to the Jets from the Los Angeles Kings in 2023, along with Alex Iafallo, Rasmus Kupari, and a 2024 second-round pick, in exchange for Pierre-Luc Dubois, who is now on the Washington Capitals

Now, Vilardi can call Winnipeg his permanent home on one of the best teams in hockey for the foreseeable future.