“We love it here”: Winnipeg feels like home, says Jets Pionk after signing six-year extension

It’s been a rough week for the “Nobody wants to play in Winnipeg” crowd.

First to debunk that widespread belief across the NHL was American forward Alex Iafallo, who signed a three-year contract extension with the Jets on Wednesday. That was quickly followed by American defenceman Neal Pionk inking a new six-year deal on Thursday.

“We love it here. And, probably most importantly, my family loves it here, too,” said Pionk, who hails from Hermantown, Minnesota. “This feels like home to me. Didn’t want to leave.”

Pionk, 29, will be paid US $7 million per year starting in 2025-26, which makes him the highest-paid blue-liner on the team. All-Star Josh Morrissey is making US $6.25 million on an eight-year pact he signed in 2019. It’s a bit of an apples and oranges comparison considering the salary cap is projected to soar after years of being stagnant.

A better comparable would be to current market value. For one example, the Washington Capitals recently signed 27-year-old defenceman Jakob Chychrun to an eight-year extension that will pay him US $9 million per year. He has a career-high 47 points this year, which is eight more than Pionk in four extra games played.

Pionk had been earning US $5.875 million and just tied his career high in goals (10) after scoring in Thursday’s regular-season finale against the Anaheim Ducks. The undrafted right-shooting rear-guard also had 29 assists over 69 games and was a plus-21 on the NHL’s No. 1 team, forming an effective second pairing with Dylan Samberg.

“Obviously, very exciting. I know he loves it here and he’s starting a family, so it’s important for him to be in one spot,” said Samberg, who is a pending restricted free agent this summer.

“(We) complement each other well. He’s got more of that offensive side, I’d say I am more on the defensive side. We’re good with communication, we know where we’re going to be on the ice and we’re always looking to support each other. That’s why we’ve been having so much success.”

Pionk was thrilled to get the business done prior to the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs, saying it was a relatively painless negotiation between his agent and Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff.

He would have been in demand had he hit the open market on July 1.

“He’s extremely popular in our dressing room. He’s one of our leaders, I know he doesn’t have an ‘A’ on his jersey but he is one of those guys that has a strong voice in there. Real excited that he’s decided that he wants to be a Winnipeg Jet for six more years,” said head coach Scott Arniel.

“He’s got an all-around game. When you have top-four defenceman, you’re playing against other teams’ top players. He’s on the penalty kill, he’s on the power play. It gives us an offensive edge, he’s got some bite to him and he also likes to get under the skin of the opposition. He’s one of those guys who is well-rounded and brings a lot to the table in every game.”

Pionk was traded to the Jets in the summer of 2019 as part of the Jacob Trouba package. He put up a career-high 45 points in his first season in Winnipeg and likely would have eclipsed that this year if not for missing 13 games with a lower-body injury.

“To think when I got traded here at 101 (career) games coming off my entry level deal and to see that we’re here is pretty crazy to believe,” said Pionk. “You know, I was just breaking into the NHL. Really, I had one full season under my belt, and now we’re here and making a Cup run. So it’s really fun.”

Pionk said the fact so many core players are locked up long-term speaks to how the reality is different than the perception of Winnipeg. Iafallo, who is from Buffalo, New York, said essentially the same thing a day earlier. Like Pionk, he came over initially in a trade but has come to appreciate the organization and the city.

Other trade additions such as Nino Niederreiter and Vlad Namestnikov have previously re-upped with the Jets, as have numerous drafted and developed players.

“I mean, all these guys that I played with now for six years like these are lifelong friends that we’re creating. Not only that, my wife’s created a lot of friends. So that was a big deal,” said Pionk.

“Chance to win here every year. Family loves it here. Those are the two biggest things.”

From a Jets perspective, why not try to keep as many pieces of the band together consider the sweet music they’re making. Winnipeg just had its best regular season with a 56-22-4 record.

“Any time you see those in-season signings, I feel good about them with the direction of this team and knowing the future of this team is starting to get locked up for longer,” said Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who along with top centre Mark Scheifele are in the first year of seven-year extensions they signed in 2023.

“He is just a phenomenal player and he has earned every second of it. I am so proud of him and proud to play behind him, and having him there for another six years, it feels pretty good being the guy behind him.”

Pionk’s signing leaves forwards Nikolaj Ehlers, Mason Appleton and Brandon Tanev and defenceman Haydn Fleury as the remaining UFAs heading into this summer in terms of regular roster players. Depth forward Dominic Toninato, who has served as captain of the Manitoba Moose this year, and third-string goaltender Chris Driedger are as well.

Samberg, along with forwards Gabe Vilardi, Morgan Barron and Rasmus Kupari are all RFAs who will need new deals but remain under team control.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @mikemcintyrewpg