DeMelo signs four-year contract extension with the Winnipeg Jets By: Ken Wiebe Posted: 1:37 PM CDT Tuesday, Jun. 25, 2024 Last Modified: 5:37 PM CDT Tuesday, Jun. 25, 2024 Updates

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Dylan DeMelo was quick to put his cards on the table.

As he spoke to reporters last month on exit interview day, the Winnipeg Jets defenceman professed his willingness to stick around before becoming an unrestricted free agent on July 1, just like many players have before him.

DeMelo turned those words into actions on Tuesday morning, agreeing to terms on a four-year extension which includes an average annual value of $4.9 million.

“It was my first choice,” DeMelo said in a telephone interview. “It feels like home here. The comfort factor of knowing my role, knowing the guys, knowing the city, the coaching staff. It just feels right. It’s a group of guys I want to win with. That’s my goal, to continue to push our group forward and try to chase the Stanley Cup.

“To get it done now is a huge peace of mind, too. Not having to worry about free agency or any of that stuff.”

It’s a tidy raise from the $3 million AAV from the last four-year pact he signed with the Jets back in October of 2020.

It’s also an important development for an organization that figures to be in the middle of plenty of discussions over the course of the coming days, leading into Friday’s first round of the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas.

Locking down a top-pairing guy who has provided stability to playing partner Josh Morrissey is something the Jets needed to get done, especially when you consider the uncertainty surrounding a defence corps that is now likely to be losing Brenden Dillon to free agency once it opens.

There’s no doubt that’s a significant development in itself, but the prospect of losing both Dillon and DeMelo was looming large, with unrestricted free agency just around the corner.

Since DeMelo got so close to hitting the open market, there was some temptation to see what else might be out there.

But when taking stock of the situation as negotiations intensified during the course of the past week or so, DeMelo realized he was getting exactly what he wanted in the place he wanted to be.

“When you find a place that’s really good, on and off the ice, you want to hold onto that feeling,” said DeMelo. “The longer it went here and the closer it got to July 1, for sure there was some thought to what is out there. It’s human nature. It wasn’t a matter of let’s put Winnipeg on the back burner, but if for whatever reason it doesn’t work in Winnipeg, there was that little bit of curiosity. Sometimes the grass isn’t greener on the other side.

“You see it happen all the time, where guys sign and they get the payday that they want, but it’s not the right fit. For me, fit was probably the most important of all of it. You don’t get to be a free agent too many times and you don’t want to leave money on the table. This is life-changing money for not just yourself but for your family. I achieved all that I wanted with this contract negotiation.”

Paying a 31-year-old close to $5 million for the next four seasons will be considered a risk to some observers, but it’s the cost of doing business.

“It’s a group of guys I want to win with. That’s my goal, to continue to push our group forward and try to chase the Stanley Cup.”–Dylan DeMelo

Right-shot D-men are at a premium, the cap is going up and DeMelo’s game is still getting better, even as he prepares for his 10th NHL season.

DeMelo’s ability to help the Jets exit the defensive zone and transport the puck efficiently are among the many valued qualities that he brings to the table.

And don’t discount the importance of maintaining the pairing with Morrissey, who saw a revolving door of partners since the departure of Jacob Trouba in the summer of 2019 before settling in alongside DeMelo.

DeMelo is part of the expanding leadership core and recently revealed that he and his wife are expecting a second child in August, which means he’s the latest player that’s committed to raising a young family in this market.

“My four years here have been amazing,” said DeMelo. “It checks a lot of boxes for me. You kind of have to do the song and dance a little bit with the negotiations. But I always knew it was going to get to this stage. Obviously, I would have loved for it to have been done quicker. But sometimes you have to wait your turn and just be patient.”

Morrissey was kept in the loop by DeMelo during the past several weeks and is thrilled to know his defence partner is sticking around.

“He’s worked really hard to earn a really nice contract and he’s done it the hard way,” said Morrissey. “To get your biggest deal at 31 is a big testament to his perseverance in the game and his commitment to trying to try and improve and work on your game. That’s definitely what he’s done. I’m happy to see him get rewarded.

“He’s a fantastic player. He does so many little things right in the game and complements my game perfectly and I think vice versa. We’re going to continue to push one another and find new gears and new levels.”

So what’s next for the Jets?

There have been some rumblings that the Jets are making some progress on an extension for veteran centre Sean Monahan.

For a team that is in win-now mode, securing a No. 2 centre for multiple seasons is near the top of the to-do list.

But it’s far from the only front-burner issue to take care of, especially after the buzz that’s been created surrounding the possibility of 2022 first-rounder Rutger McGroarty being on the move if the right deal presents itself.

The list of suitors figures to be a long one for the guy with power forward potential and the big question now seems to revolve around whether or not the Jets will be looking to get back into the first round of this draft or looking for a package that includes more NHL ready talent or fellow top prospects.

Or might McGroarty find himself in the middle of a bigger package that turns it into a blockbuster deal?

Might there be clarity on teams that could be pursuing speedy forward Nikolaj Ehlers in a trade?

That remains to be seen, though a multitude of moves could be on the horizon.

For the time being, the Jets have just under $9 million available to them according to Puck Pedia, with 18 of 23 roster spots spoken for.

Further improvements to the defence corps are still required and changing the mix of the forward group are other options that will be examined.

But as the Jets look to make the improvements required to take the next steps in this journey, the hard work and critical decisions are just beginning for general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff.

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

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