Up close: an in-depth look at Gabe Vilardi’s goalscoring exploits By: Mike McIntyre Posted: 5:18 PM CDT Friday, Apr. 5, 2024 Last Modified: 6:12 PM CDT Friday, Apr. 5, 2024 Updates

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Gabriel Vilardi couldn’t help himself.

With a vacated Calgary Flames net in front of him and nothing but free ice, the Winnipeg Jets forward was staring down his first NHL hat trick Thursday night. Rather than take an easy shot from any kind of distance, Vilardi calmly skated into the crease and gently slid the puck across the line to cap off a 5-2 victory that clinched a playoff spot.

His 19th goal of the year in his 41st game looked eerily similar to the previous 18, the only difference being that the goaltender was sitting on the bench in this case as the visitors looked for a six-on-five rally

If there’s one thing we’ve quickly learned about Vilardi during his first year in Winnipeg, it’s that the 24-year-old lives in the blue paint. Nearly all of his goals are just a foot or two out and, in most cases, being put into what is essentially an empty net. The majority of his 14 assists have come from his “office” as well, including ones that make you think he has eyes in the back of his head.

“That’s unique. It is,” said Jets coach Rick Bowness, who has been behind an NHL bench for 40 years and has seen very few players who can do what Vilardi does.

“We had Corey (Perry) in Dallas and he was so good around the net,” Bowness continued. “You know you’re going to get hacked and whacked and pushed and shoved and you’ve got to have the stamina and the courage to hang in there, which he does. And then you’ve got to have the ability to make plays when someone is all over back and you’re strong enough and skilled enough to make those plays. Corey would be the closest I’ve come to that’s like Gabe.”

The Free Press re-watched every Vilardi goal from this season, and it’s freaky how familiar they all look. Incredible hand-eye co-ordination and an imposing net-front presence make the 6-3, 216-pounder an absolute beast who is a nightmare to defend, especially when the Jets are on the power play.

There have been pucks taken off his skate directly into the net (his first goal Feb. 20 vs. Minnesota, his first goal Thursday vs. Calgary); pucks off his skate up to his stick and in (Dec. 16 vs. Colorado, Dec. 18 vs. Montreal, Jan. 9 vs. Columbus); and plenty of tips and tap-ins after getting himself wide-open and being spotted by his linemates (Dec. 20 vs. Detroit, Dec. 22 vs. Boston, Jan. 4 vs. San Jose, Jan. 11 vs. Chicago, Feb. 17 vs. Vancouver on two occasions, his second goal Feb. 20 vs. Minnesota).

What you won’t find on his resume are sizzling slappers or wicked wristers. That’s just not his M.O.

On a team with plenty of skilled shooters, Vilardi adds an entirely different element that is in short supply. Other than teammate Nino Niederreiter, who has 18 goals in 75 games, nobody else on the current roster can come close to what he’s doing in terms of frequency and effectiveness.

He’s provided a huge spark to the power play, and his seven goals lead all Jets scorers despite missing so much time (Tyler Toffoli and Sean Monahan, at 10 and nine respectively, did most of that damage with their previous teams prior to being acquired in separate trades).

“We all have our strengths and weaknesses, and that’s his biggest strength. His ability to handle the puck and to create something in such a tight space,” said Jets defenceman Brenden Dillon, who is happy he only has to try to stop Vilardi in practice, rather than game situations.

“He goes to the net, and he’s got such a good mind for where the puck can be going. It just seems like the puck sticks to his tape, too. It’s incredible. It’s tough to stop, that’s for sure.”

Vilardi would likely be pushing 40 goals had he not missed 36 games this season due to various injuries.

His first, scored Dec. 10 in Anaheim, was a net-front tip of a Josh Morrissey shot that broke a 2-2 tie with 102 seconds left in the third period and would be a harbinger of things to come.

Vilardi has 108 shots on goal this season. According to NHL advanced stat tracking date, 73 of them have come from either directly in front or to the left or right side of the net, which are deemed high-danger areas. Eighteen of his goals have been scored from there, too.

The only exception was his second of the year back on Dec. 13, against the Los Angeles Kings club that traded him to Winnipeg last summer, as Vilardi shovelled a backhander from the right faceoff circle to beat Cam Talbot.

“He’s got incredible hands for a big guy. Long reach, but he’s able to pull the puck into his feet and he can stick handle in a phone booth,” said Jets captain Adam Lowry.

“I think using his body to shield the defenders and still get his stick open and his hand eye is incredible. So it’s extremely difficult what he does. He’s got an elite skill set around there and it’s nice to see him contributing.”

Just listen to a few descriptions that have come on the Jets TV broadcast following Vilardi goals this year.

“It’s more of a magic wand than a stick,” said colour analyst Kevin Sawyer back on Jan. 16, as Vilardi re-directed a puck that was first tipped by Lowry.

“How is that for a sleight of hand?” said play-by-play man Dan Robertson on Feb. 25 after Vilardi scored perhaps his nicest goal of the year, where he took the puck at the right side of the net, spun, did a head fake to the right and then slid the puck in on the left side with the goaltender down and out.

“The hands of a surgeon!” Robertson said Thursday as Vilardi tipped a Morrissey shot, then batted the loose puck past Dustin Wolf from the crease area.

Following the win over the Flames, Vilardi was asked how he can make split-second decisions on what to do with the puck from such tight quarters, especially with teammates in constant motion.

“You think I don’t take a look, but I do. I scan before a lot of time. Sometimes I screw up,” he said.

“One time, I went between my legs, but a lot of the time it’s just pre-scanning. And then it’s just Mark (Scheifele) and a lot of the other guys creating more space for me and then looking off JMo at the point and just spending that extra second to make a move and make my play. But I’ve been in that position for a while now, so I’m comfortable there.”

That might be what’s most impressive about Vilardi. He’s still getting used to his new surroundings, and has missed half the season, to boot. What’s he going to look like once he really gets comfortable?

“So we’ve got a tough road trip coming up. Four tough games. That’s going to help him,” said Bowness.

Indeed, the Jets will start things off Saturday afternoon in St. Paul against the Minnesota Wild, then move on to face the Nashville Predators (Tuesday), Dallas Stars (Thursday) and Colorado Avalanche (Saturday) in what very likely will be a first-round playoff preview.

“We’re going into some tough rinks against some really good hockey teams. It’ll give us a better gauge of where we are going into the playoffs,” said Bowness.

“Certainly with Gabe he’s always made the power play better. We saw it when he came back. And it’s a totally different power play when he’s not out there. It shows the importance of his presence on that power play and on that line.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

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