‘Put ourselves in a spot to be successful again’

Adam Lowry isn’t planning on going anywhere.

The Winnipeg Jets captain will be entering the final year of his contract next season but isn’t worried about what that means for his future. Nor is the organization, it should be noted.

“That’s kind of how I picture myself. As a Winnipeg Jet for life,” the 32-year-old said Wednesday.

“I love the city, love playing in front of these fans and I think that’s something that hopefully we can take steps towards getting that out of the way this summer. There’s obviously a few more important pieces that will probably get done before. But I don’t see that being an issue. As long as they want to bring me back, I’m more than happy to come back.”

Lowry, who scored a career-high 16 goals during the regular season and then added four more in the playoffs, would be eligible to sign an extension as of July 1. It sounds like general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff is already starting to draw up the paperwork.

“I think the world of Lows. He is Winnipeg. He is what it embodies,” said Cheveldayoff.

Lowry, the second draft pick of the 2.0 Jets after Mark Scheifele, will make US$3.25 million for 2025-26. While the wound of a second-round playoff exit is still fresh, he believes even brighter days are on the horizon.

“There’s a lot of optimism that with another good summer, guys really pushing to get better to work on their game and to find ways to improve, that we can come back next year and put ourselves in a spot to be successful again,” said Lowry.

“Put ourselves in a spot to go on another playoff run and hopefully this one ends in late June instead of late May.”

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Nikolaj Ehlers will ultimately make the decision that is best for him. But the pending unrestricted free agent forward is likely going to have several Winnipeg teammates in his ears over the coming weeks trying to convince him to re-sign with the Jets.

“Being Nikky’s friend, playing with him for so long, all you want to do is support him. Unrestricted free agency, it’s something that you have to wait for, and he’s earned that right,” said Lowry.

“I think I’d echo the statement of everyone in this room, that we’d love to see Nikky back. He’s a huge part of our team. He’s a game-breaker, he’s great in this room. I would say I’m like the rest of you. We’re all waiting, holding our breath, hoping that we can get something done.”

Cole Perfetti, a frequent linemate of Ehlers, hopes he hasn’t seen the last of his wingman.

“Obviously, we all want him back. It’s out of our control. He’s a heck of a player, heck of a person,” he said.

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Perfetti checked off plenty of boxes this year including staying healthy for all 82 regular-season games, suiting up for 13 post-season contests and establishing new career offensive highs.

He also scored the goal now referred to as the “Manitoba Miracle” in Game 7 of the first-round series against the St. Louis Blues — something he never gets tired of being reminded about even by complete strangers.

“Talking to neighbours and some people at the grocery store, people that were at the game saying it was the greatest moment of their life. To be able to hear that and be a part of that, it’s special,” said Perfetti.

“You see how much this team means to this community and to this city. Winnipeg bleeds hockey and bleeds the Jets. We’re so lucky that we have fans like that, that are so passionate and so supportive of us. I’ve never heard a building that loud. It was the craziest thing. I wish I would have remembered it a little better. I kind of blacked out during that whole thing.”

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Long-term or short-term? Gabe Vilardi says he hasn’t put much thought yet into what his next contract will look like.

The 25-year-old, who set new career highs this year for games played, goals, assists and points, said he won’t sweat the details as he spends the summer bouncing between his girlfriend’s home in California and his in Ontario.

“I’m hoping that it goes smoothly, but it’s not really my thing. That’s what my agent’s for, and they’ll get it done — I’m not too worried about that,” he said.

Vilardi, who missed the last 11 games of the regular season and the first five games of the playoffs with an upper-body injury, said not winning the Stanley Cup this year feels like a “letdown.”

“The past few days have been really hard. Just looking back, I thought we had as good a chance as anybody to win the Cup,” he said.

“Last year we just kind of got steamrolled by Colorado and it wasn’t really as tight. I think this year, every game, I’m not sure what the eye test says, I’m not sure what the analytics say that you guys obviously see, but being out there I felt like different bounces and we could (still be) playing.”

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The Jets are hoping patience may finally pay off when it comes to prospect Dmitry Rashevsky.

The 24-year-old Russian forward, picked in the fifth round of the 2021 draft, is at the end of his contract with Moscow Dynamo of the KHL.

Cheveldayoff and assistant general manager Larry Simmons recently had a Zoom call with him and his agent in an attempt to bring him to North America.

“He’s got some decisions to make. Obviously, we think he’d be a perfect fit in our organization here but, again, there’s lots of different factors that go into their decisions. We’re still hopeful,” said Cheveldayoff.

Rashevsky has put up 156 points (81G and 75A) over the past four seasons.

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Elias Salomonsson is knocking at the door of NHL work.

Both Cheveldayoff and head coach Scott Arniel had plenty of praise for the 20-year-old Swedish defenceman, who is coming off his first pro season with the Manitoba Moose and had 27 points (5G, 22A) in 53 AHL games.

“He had an exceptional year and not surprisingly. We’ve been talking about him for several years in different settings like this, we feel like we have a really good one there,” said Cheveldayoff.

Arniel went so far as to compare him to Dylan Samberg — a sentiment he admits he’s shared with Salomonsson during a recent meeting.

“We’re excited. If he has a really good summer, he’s someone that could force us to make some big decisions,” said Cheveldayoff.

“You’re fortunate as an organization when you have the ability to let the players show you that they’re ready as opposed to you having to put them in a situation and hope that they’re ready. We talk about with players, ‘We want you here for a long time. Not just a quick minute. We want you to be a longtime pro.’”

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Jets co-owner Mark Chipman has chartered a plane that is taking multiple members of the Jets to Kitchener on Thursday so they can attend the funeral of Mark Scheifele’s father, Brad, who passed away last Saturday hours before the team faced the Dallas Stars.

“For Chipper to charter a plane to bring most of the guys and staff out, it means a lot to us as players. It certainly will be an emotional time,” said Lowry.

“To be there to support out friend, our teammate and his whole family, it means a lot to us. Brad was one of a kind, an unbelievable person, and we’re really glad we can all be there to support the whole family.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @mikemcintyrewpg