The Jets have re-signed Logan Stanley and David Gustafsson to two-year contracts.
Stanley will earn $1.25M annually, while Gustafsson gets $835K. Both players could have filed for salary arbitration but chose not to.
Stanley, picked 18th overall in 2016, hasn’t become the key player Winnipeg hoped for .
Playing time has been scarce for the 26-year-old defenseman. He only appeared in 19 games during the 2022-23 season and seemed open to a change of scenery. Despite this, he re-signed but still played just 25 games last season with minimal impact—one goal and one assist in under 14 minutes per game. He did participate in three out of five playoff games. With Brenden Dillon leaving via free agency, Stanley might get more chances next season, though Ville Heinola is also vying for a spot. This contract gives him a $250K raise and offers Winnipeg another year to evaluate his potential on their defense line.
Gustafsson’s Journey:
Gustafsson was chosen late in the second round of the 2018 draft (60th overall) and spent most of last season with Winnipeg in a limited role. He played 39 games, scoring three goals and four assists while averaging just over nine minutes per game and winning more than 54% of his faceoffs. In the playoffs, he scored once in four games. Additionally, he played six regular-season games with AHL Manitoba, where he tallied three assists.
Fans might wonder if these signings will truly impact the team’s performance next season.
Gustafsson won’t return to AHL Manitoba without clearing waivers first; it’s more likely he’ll stay as a fourth-line center or hold onto a backup forward spot on Winnipeg’s roster. He’ll still be an RFA when this contract ends.
With these deals done, the Jets now have four remaining restricted free agents: Ville Heinola, Dylan Coghlan (recently acquired), Simon Lundmark on defense; Cole Perfetti upfront still needs signing too.
What do you think about these moves? Let us know!
