Scheifele to play opening night

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This article was published 03/10/2011 (4187 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG — Mark Scheifele, the Winnipeg Jets’ 18-year-old first-round draft pick, can count today as a dream day.

He signed his first NHL contract this morning — a three-year, entry-level deal for a reported salary of $925,000 and annual bonuses averaging $700,000 — and heard the team’s GM, Kevin Cheveldayoff say this afternoon that he’ll be in the lineup for the historic first regular-season game Sunday afternoon against the Montreal Canadiens.

Today’s signing beat the league’s Tuesday deadline for getting deals with junior-aged players.

Scheifele, the Kitchener, Ont., native, had an excellent training camp by all accounts and his stats showed it. He scored four goals and four assists in five exhibition games.

“A lot of people might have gotten caught up in the situation but to his credit, his family’s credit, his agent’s credit, he has been very, very grounded from the moment we drafted him,” Cheveldayoff said today. “He’s earned what he’s gotten to this point. We hope he continues to earn it.”

Today’s signing essentially extends the ongoing tryout phase of Scheifele’s introduction to the Jets and their fans.

The first nine games of action he sees will be a “free” phase in terms of contract years. But if Scheifele plays a 10th regular-season game — the team’s is Oct. 29th in Tampa — then the entire 2011-12 season, no matter how many more games he plays or doesn;t will count as a full year on his contract.

If Scheifele were to be returned to the OHL’s Barrie Colts before he reaches 10 games, then his contract would begin at Year 1 whenever in the future he makes the team permanently.

Scheifele hinted today that a number change might be on the way.

He wore No. 45 in the pre-season but said today he didn’t want to give away any secrets on that front.

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca