The Winnipeg Jets are determined to continue building their franchise around center Mark Scheifele and goalie Connor Hellebuyck. With this in mind, the franchise decided to ink the duo to matching seven-year deals.
Both Scheifele and Hellebuyck were set to become free agents after the 2023-24 NHL season. But now, the duo will be tied to the Jets organization for seven more years and have a chance to spend their entire careers in Winnipeg.
According to the Jets’ official announcement, the duo’s deal is identical in value as well and comes with an $8.5 million annual salary.
The Jets drafted Mark Scheifele 7th overall in the 2011 NHL Draft. He played 723 games with the franchise since then, scoring 272 goals and dishing 373 assists for a total of 645 points. The Kitchener, Ontario, native has two All-Star nods.
“To call myself a Jet for life, it’s an honor really,” said Scheifele. “Because not many guys get the opportunity to actually do that and be on one team their entire career.”
Connor Hellebuyck entered the NHL as the Jets’ fifth-round selection in 2012. He has made 445 appearances in the NHL and has a career goal-against average of 2.66 with a .916 save percentage. Hellebuyck made the All-Star three times and received the Vezina Trophy as the league’s best goalkeeper in 2020.
