Winnipeg Jets sign Scheifele, Hellebuyck to 7-year contracts

The Winnipeg Jets have signed two comparable contracts during a seven-year period. Mark Scheifele, a forward player, and Connor Hellebuyck, a goalkeeper, are the two main players in this scenario, for an amount of $8.5 million annually. The deal extension is scheduled for the 2024–2025 NHL season.

In his career, Scheifele scored 42 goals in the previous season itself, and as per his ranking, he stands ahead of all the others in the entire legacy of the franchise. This includes 19 play-off goals along with 44 winning goals. As per the Jets and their 2011 NHL Entry Draft, he stands in the seventh position. 

Hellebuyck, who is 30 years old, entered the competition the following year. This occurred in round five, marking the beginning of his ninth season with the Jets. He has played 445 games as a goalkeeper, with a record of 238 wins and 32 shutouts. He was awarded the Vezina Trophy in 2022 and participated in the 2018 and 2023 finals.

With goalkeeper Matt Murray hospitalized after hip surgery, the Maple Leafs made several changes before the NHL season. Some further staff changes were also made. Murray is expected to miss six to eight months. According to the general manager of the Maple Leafs, Brad Treliving, they were aware of Murray’s difficulties but refused to provide additional information. Murray, who is 19 years old, had a .903 save percentage and 3.01 goals against average over 26 games played in 2022-2023.

According to a statement from the organization, the Leafs have appointed Curtis McElhinney as their Director of Goaltending Development and Scouting. Jake Muzzin is responsible for his role as a professional scout, while Chris Bourque is responsible for his role as a college free-agent scout. Even though Muzzin had one year remaining on his contract with the Leafs, Treliving did not need him for the upcoming season. In 2012, at 40, McElhinney retired from the NHL after 16 years with numerous teams. During the 2022–23 season, Bourque became a Maple Leafs’ scouting staff member.

In the case of Murray, his physical ailments were hindering his performance. According to the terms of his four-year, $25 million contract, he still has one season remaining to play. In 2020, after he arrived from Pittsburgh, he inked this contract with Ottawa. Per the trade agreement with Toronto, he was slated to receive $4.69 million in the upcoming season. However, the senator withheld 25% of his pay, preventing him from receiving this amount.

According to the latest sports betting news, Rasmus Dahlin signed an eight-year, $88 million contract with the Buffalo Sabres. The prolongation will occur prior to the 2024-25 campaign. This season, 22-year-old Dahlin will earn $7.2 million in compensation.  In the previous season, Dahlin ranked fifth among NHL defensemen with 73 points from 15 goals and 58 assists. Over the course of five seasons with the Sabres, he accumulated 233 points on the strength of 46 goals and 187 assists. 

In addition to Dahlin, the Buffalo Sabres have signed forwards Tage Thompson, Dylan Cozens, and defenseman Mattias Samuelsson to multiyear contracts. The team’s top selection in 2021 will be the defensive player Owen Power.