Jets sign defenceman Stanley to one-year extension

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This article was published 19/08/2023 (777 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Jets knocked another item off their off-season to-do list over the weekend, inking defenceman Logan Stanley to a one-year contract on Saturday.

Stanley, 25, was a restricted free-agent, coming off his three-year, entry-level deal. His new contract will pay the 6-7, 242-pound blue-liner a similar sum, costing the Jets US$1 million over the 2023-24 NHL season.

The Waterloo, Ont. native has played three seasons with the Jets, but saw his playing time dip significantly over the past year.

Stanley struggled with injuries and inconsistent play over the 2022-23 campaign, where he was limited to just one goal and two assists, and was a minus-1 over 19 games.

He was a healthy scratch in all five playoff games against the eventual Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights and, earlier in the season, had reportedly requested a trade.

Indeed, it’s been a rollercoaster run for Stanley in Winnipeg ever since the Jets traded up to select him with the 18th overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft.

In 114 total regular-season games with the Jets — including a single-season high of 58 over the 2021-22 campaign — Stanley has combined three goals and 17 assists for 20 points. He’s played some of his best hockey in the playoffs, where he has two goals and an assist, and is a plus-5 in nine games.

Stanley will enter the upcoming NHL season in a similar situation to last year: fighting for one of six jobs on the blue line.

He’ll be in tough to become an everyday player, as the Jets’ top six will all be back this season, with another first-rounder in Ville Heinola and Declan Chisholm, a 23-year-old prospect the Jets are high on, and the remaining RFA yet to be signed — also battling for a spot.

With Stanley now under contract, the Jets have US$1.8 million remaining in cap space.

Jeff.Hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton