‘He’s becoming a leader for us’ Jets’ Vilardi has cemented his role as a top-line winger By: Ken Wiebe Posted: 12:39 PM CST Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026

TAMPA — Gabe Vilardi is proving to be adept at adapting.

At a time when the Winnipeg Jets were looking to stretch out the lineup and create a more balanced attack, it was Vilardi who was moved to the second line with Jonathan Toews and Cole Perfetti.

The trio clicked almost immediately and the Jets put together a four-game winning streak, with Vilardi showing he had the ability to drive his own line when he was on top of his game.

The line had cooled a bit during a recent 1-2-2 stretch, so it came as little surprise that head coach Scott Arniel reunited Vilardi with the top trio for the second period against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday.

After getting on the ice together for a blended shift during the first period when Alex Iafallo had already gone to the bench for a change, Vilardi, Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele connected for a perfect tick-tack-toe play that concluded with Scheifele’s team-leading 26th goal of the campaign.

In getting back together for the middle period, it was Vilardi playing the role of triggerman after a crisp, cross-ice feed from Scheifele.

“I need to contribute a little more,” Vilardi had said during a one-on-one conversation after the morning skate. “I just need to do a better job of capitalizing on my chances. The past 10 to 15 games, I’m getting chances, I’m just not as deadly as I have been.

“I’m not someone who shoots a lot of pucks. Obviously, I score a lot in tight, but I have a high shooting percentage and that gets me to 20 or 30 goals or whatever it is each year. I bury on the good looks that I get.”

Sure enough, there was Vilardi burying a shot to the top corner to hit the 20-goal plateau for a fourth consecutive season — the past three with the Jets and the other with the Los Angeles Kings back in 2022-23.

Vilardi, Scheifele and Connor all had two-point outings, while the Jets also got goals from Cole Koepke and Nino Niederreiter to earn a 4-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday.

“When you watch him in situations, it’s almost like he can stickhandle in a phone booth. He’s a heck of a player.”

The Jets, who improved to 21-24-7, continue this four-game road trip on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are on a remarkable heater, going 15-1-1 over the last 17 games.

Vilardi arrived on the scene as the centrepiece of the trade for Pierre-Luc Dubois in the summer of 2023 as someone who oozed potential, provided he could stay healthy.

He’s grown into a consistent point producer and has cemented himself as a top-line winger, finding chemistry with Scheifele and Connor.

“Ever since I’ve been in Winnipeg, I’ve only played with (Connor) and (Scheifele),” said Vilardi. “With (them), I’m more of a retriever, puck protection guy and (work) to get it back to them and, then, we create that way.”

Vilardi takes pride in growing into a first-line player, which isn’t surprising when you consider the bulk of his minutes with the Kings came in more of a bottom-six role along with some time on the power play — where he was able to show off his soft hands in tight.

That skill has only become more apparent since Vilardi took on an expanded role with the Jets.

“When you watch him in situations, it’s almost like he can stickhandle in a phone booth. He’s a heck of a player,” said Jets winger Tanner Pearson, who was with the Kings when they selected Vilardi with the 11th pick in the 2017 NHL draft. “I never played with him there, but you could see it back then (in training camp) too.”

Prior to being promoted back to the top line, Vilardi was enjoying the challenge of trying to mesh with new linemates.

“When you play with different guys, you’ve got to know how your role within the line changes,” said Vilardi. “With (Toews) and (Perfetti), none of us are really dynamic one-on-one, where we’re going to create (much) separation. We need to be more supportive of each other, to beat guys or beat D-zone systems through passing and close support.

“When I say that, I mean create the two-on-ones in the corners, the three-on-twos in the zone down low.”

After two strong seasons with the Jets on a bridge contract, including a career-best 28 goals and 65 points in 80 games last season (including the playoffs), Vilardi cashed in as a restricted free agent last summer, inking a six-year extension that carries an annual average value of US$7.5 million.

By going seven games without a goal to open the campaign, Vilardi concedes that he had put some additional pressure on himself to perform after signing the most lucrative contract of his career.

But several conversations with teammates, including Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey, helped Vilardi leave those concerns behind him.

“It definitely did. I did feel there was added pressure to produce. That’s behind me now and I haven’t thought about it in a while,” said Vilardi. “But yeah, there was some coming into the season. You don’t try to think about it, but at the end of the day, it is something that matters. If you make more money, you’re expected to produce, obviously.

“(When) you watch him on the power play, he’s a dog on a bone.”

“Just the self pressure that you put on yourself. The ‘I need to do more here.’ If you sign a big contract or whatever it is, you want to produce for the team. But at the end of the day, if I’m making $7.5 million or I’m making $2 or $3 million, the goal is to help the team win hockey games.”

Vilardi has done his part on that front, sitting third in both points (46) and goals (20) on the Jets this season in 52 games — which leaves him on pace for career highs in both categories.

“His biggest thing is when he hounds pucks and when he gets into puck battles, he usually wins them,” said Jets head coach Scott Arniel. “And when he’s off (his game), he doesn’t have the puck and he’s getting his stick popped.

“(When) you watch him on the power play, he’s a dog on a bone: (with) his puck possession, his playmaking, his (ability) to get pucks back, and it’s just (about) carrying that over to five-on-five (play).”

Arniel felt that Vilardi was one of the most effective forwards for the Jets on Tuesday and is hoping that he’ll be looking to carry that over into the final four games before the Olympic break.

“He’s just got those intangibles that, when you get him time and space, he’s got great hands,” said Connor, who was also asked about Vilardi’s growth during these past three seasons.

“I mean, the raw talent is there, I would say, just consistency and confidence in stringing it together. And not wavering or having (as many) ups and downs in games. He’s rock solid out there — and he’s becoming a leader for us.”

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