Jets sign journeymen Letestu, Bitetto

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This article was published 02/07/2019 (2260 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Depth continues to be the name of the game for the cash-strapped Winnipeg Jets.

Veteran centre Mark Letestu and journeyman defenceman Anthony Bitetto joined the organization Tuesday in a pair of free-agent signings, giving the club a couple of experienced options for the upcoming season.

Both players signed one-year, two-way deals that will pay each of them US$700,000 at the NHL level (the league minimum) and US$350,000 if playing with the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League.

The 34-year-old Letestu has 560 NHL games under his belt, with 93 goals and 117 assists during previous stops with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Edmonton Oilers and Columbus Blue Jackets. He is no stranger to Jets fans: the Alberta product scored five times in three games against Winnipeg during the 2016-17 season while playing with the Oilers, including the short-handed, game-winning goal in the Heritage Classic held at Investors Group Field.

Letestu spent this past season with the Blue Jackets organization, appearing in two NHL games. He had 21 goals and 29 assists in 64 games with the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL.

Given the current lineup, Letestu looks to be a decent bet to start the season on the 23-man roster. He is a good faceoff man who can also kill penalties, which will be qualities that endear him to the Jets.

Bitetto, 28, has played 132 NHL games with the Nashville Predators and Minnesota Wild. He has two goals and 17 assists in that span.

The left-shooting blue-liner from New York is 6-1, 210 pounds. He is the third defenceman signed in free agency by the Jets, after Nathan Beaulieu and Cameron Schilling inked one-year deals on Monday. At this point, he is likely on the bubble to either start in the NHL or AHL.

The Jets organization currently has 40 players under contract for the upcoming season to fill rosters for the Jets and Moose. The NHL maximum is 50, meaning there is room to make additional signings.

The biggest obstacle in the way is the US$81.5-million salary cap, which applies to the 23-player NHL roster. The Jets are expected to be near the ceiling once restricted free agents Patrik Laine, Kyle Connor, Andrew Copp and Neal Pionk sign new deals this summer.

Defenceman Ben Chiarot continues to be on the radar, with money being the major sticking point. The Jets are certainly interested in bringing back the unrestricted free agent, with a two-year, US$6-million deal apparently on the table at one point Monday. However, Chiarot continues to explore his options with other potential suitors.

Other Winnipeg unrestricted free agents have already found new homes. Kevin Hayes joined the Philadelphia Flyers, Tyler Myers is now with the Vancouver Canucks, Brandon Tanev will suit up with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Par Lindholm is now a member of the Boston Bruins.

 

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg