2023-10-09 19:28:00
Center Mark Scheifele and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck have signed identical seven-year contract extensions worth $8.5 million annually with the Winnipeg Jets, the team announced Monday.
The new pact of these two important faces of the Jets squad will come into effect at the start of the 2024-2025 calendar.
These announcements may seem surprising, given that the status of the two veterans with the Manitoba team seemed uncertain to say the least beyond the 2023-2024 campaign.
Aged 30, Scheifele is entering his eleventh season in a Winnipeg uniform, coming off his best career goal production of 42.
He comes fourth among hockey players selected in the 2011 draft with his total of 645 points. The Kitchener, Ontario native is eighth in goals by a center since the 2023-2014 season.
Hellebuyck, who is also 30 years old, is currently starting his ninth season with the Jets, following being selected in the fifth round (130th overall) in 2012.
The American goalkeeper was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy last year. He was the recipient in 2020, and was also a finalist for the NHL’s best goaltender in 2018.
The Jets said general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and head coach Rick Bowness will comment on these new agreements during a press briefing on Tuesday.
Winnipeg will set the tone for its regular season on Wednesday, visiting the Calgary Flames.
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