Gabe Vilardi locked in long-term after career-best season with Winnipeg Jets

Winnipeg Free Press

5 hours ago

Gabe Vilardi knows Winnipeggers love a great deal — and the popular Jets forward hopes his new six-year extension with the hockey club will be exactly that.
'I'd hope to be someone where people are saying, 'Wow, that's a great contract for the Jets,' looking back on it,' Vilardi said Monday morning, speaking with reporters for the first time since putting pen to paper last Friday.
The 25-year-old, who became a restricted free agent on July 1, will earn US$7.5 million annually through the end of the 2030-31 NHL season.
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES
'We talked about the length and the number a lot. I know everyone has their opinions on numbers. Some people say too high, some people say too low. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions,' said Vilardi, who was coming off a two-year deal paying US$3.44 million per season.
'But I just want to keep growing and developing my game. In terms of my ceiling, I don't really know what my ceiling is. I'm not going to sit here and say it's 50 goals or 60 goals because even if I did achieve that, it's not good enough, as you can always keep climbing.'
Vilardi is coming off a career-best season with highs in games played (71), goals (27), assists (34) and points (61) as Winnipeg finished first overall in the regular-season standings. Locking him in long-term was a top priority for general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff.
'I wasn't involved in much of the conversations. I don't know what Chevy and my agent were barking at each other. But I think everything went pretty smoothly from what I heard,' said Vilardi.
'And I'm glad to hear that. It was never in any question for me. I always wanted to be back in Winnipeg so it was important that we got it done and we didn't get to arbitration and I don't think anybody wanted that. So how it played out was almost inevitable.'
'I wasn't involved in much of the conversations… But I think everything went pretty smoothly from what I heard.'– Jets forward Gabe Vilardi
Winnipeg's reputation around the league isn't always flattering, with many players listing the city on their no-trade clauses. So what is it about this place that won over Vilardi, a Kingston native who played junior hockey in Ontario before being drafted 11th overall by Los Angeles in 2017 and spending his first five pro seasons in California?
'The opportunity for us to win in our window here of four or five years is something 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,' he said.
'The fans, the team, the organization, everybody has been welcoming to me in Winnipeg since I've been there and it's been great. So it made it a pretty easy decision for me.'
Does that make the reality of Winnipeg much different from the outside perception?
'I think the perception is tough,' Vilardi admitted.
'When I played in L.A. and you come to Winnipeg, you're staying on Portage (Avenue), you don't really leave that downtown area and it's freezing cold. So you're like, 'Wow, this is kind of dark.' It's not something that you're looking forward to going out and enjoying a dinner, kind of thing.
'But once you get to Winnipeg and you leave the downtown area and go to your neighbourhoods in River Heights and Tuxedo… whatever it is. For me, personally, it feels like home. I like that.'
He noted his girlfriend, Megan Rodgers — who is from southern California — has grown to love their hockey home, too.
'The other part of your question, a lot of it is the group of guys. We have a great team, on and off the ice. I love all the guys,' said Vilardi.
'I grew up watching Jon(athan Toews) and I think him bringing that experience, he has won three (Stanley) Cups and he knows what it takes, I think it is good for us in the locker room and on the ice.'– Gabe Vilardi
'I truly believe that we have a team that can win. On the outside for guys looking in, you have to figure out what you want. Do you want to go live in a warm climate and maybe play on a worse team? At the end of the day for me, it's about hockey. I want to win. That's my top priority in life. So it's easy to overlook the cons and look at the pros for me.'
The Jets did lose a key piece this summer in Nikolaj Ehlers, who signed as a free agent with Carolina. But they're adding Winnipeg's own Jonathan Toews, who agreed to a one-year deal to make a comeback after a two-year health hiatus.
'Super excited. I grew up watching Jon and I think him bringing that experience, he has won three (Stanley) Cups and he knows what it takes, I think it is good for us in the locker room and on the ice,' said Vilardi.
'I sent him a text when he signed and I told him how excited the team is to have him. For him missing that time, obviously he is going to have a tough situation coming back and obviously getting back into the groove of things and, hopefully, myself and the guys, we can help him feel comfortable and help him get back going as quick as he can.'
The Jets also added free-agent forwards Gustav Nyquist, Tanner Pearson, and Cole Koepke, while losing Mason Appleton and Brandon Tanev in free agency.
RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS FILES
Gabe Vilardi signed a US$45 million extension through the end of the 2030-31 NHL season with the Winnipeg Jets on Friday.
RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS FILES
Gabe Vilardi signed a US$45 million extension through the end of the 2030-31 NHL season with the Winnipeg Jets on Friday.
'We have got the same coaching staff and the core group is still there. Every year there is not going to be the exact same roster, there is going to be change always,' said Vilardi.
'We are going to welcome the new guys in and we are still a very good team.'
He figures to once again be on the right side of Winnipeg's top line this coming season along with top centre Mark Scheifele — who is also signed for six more years — and Kyle Connor, who will be entering the final year of his contract but is already in extension talks.
'I believe in our group. I think this past year we obviously showed what we're capable of in the regular season,' he said.
'And obviously the playoffs didn't end up our way, but I think we competed there and I think just the opportunity of this window we have where I truly believe we have a great opportunity to win and I want to be a part of that and I think we can accomplish that.'
Vilardi admits a US$45 million contract to play the sport he's loved since he was a little kid brings a wave of feelings — with gratitude at the top of the list.
'Looking back, I always wanted to be a hockey player. I always worked really hard and I always knew this (reaching the NHL) was going to happen. In terms of the money, I'm grateful. I can help my family and make sure that everyone's set,' he said.
'I'm glad I'm sticking around for a while longer.'– Gabe Vilardi
'A lot of people have helped me get to this point, obviously, but it doesn't change much. I still feel like I have a lot to prove and I want to keep getting better. But obviously it does feel good and I'm super grateful to a lot of people that have helped me.'
Those emotions extend to the blockbuster 2023 trade that brought him to Winnipeg alongside Alex Iafallo, Rasmus Kupari and a draft pick (used to select Alfons Freij) in exchange for Pierre-Luc Dubois.
'I'm super grateful that they acquired me, took a chance on me and I've been given a lot of opportunities since I've come to Winnipeg that I'm super grateful for,' said Vilardi.
'I love the group of guys we have, I'm super grateful for the relationships that have been made over the past two years. Yeah, I'm happy with how that all played out and I'm glad I'm sticking around for a while longer.'
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Mike McIntyreReporter
Mike McIntyre is a sports reporter whose primary role is covering the Winnipeg Jets. After graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College in 1995, he spent two years gaining experience at the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in 1997, where he served on the crime and justice beat until 2016. Read more about Mike.
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