The Winnipeg Jets started free agency by locking up two of their own players and bringing back another.
Winnipeg agreed to terms on a two-year contract with forward Alexander Burmistrov and one-year deals with defenceman Adam Pardy and forward Matt Halischuk. Versatile winger Michael Frolik left to sign a US$21.5-million, five-year contract with the Calgary Flames.
The 23-year-old Burmistrov has spent the past two seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League with Ak-Bars Kazan. He spent his first three professional seasons with the Atlanta/Winnipeg franchise, scoring 23 goals and adding 35 assists in 194 NHL games.
“I heard from guys, he’s a super good guy and he’s got a ton of skill,” Pardy said on a conference call. “I’m hoping that he’s coming in here to buy into our game and fill a big hole that we’re going to miss with Fro.”
Burmistrov was selected eighth overall in 2010 NHL draft by Atlanta.
“When we took the team over here (from the Thrashers) we had extremely high hopes that he would be part of our core moving forward, and he gets that opportunity to re-establish himself in the group,” Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff told reporters.
Pardy, who fought through a shoulder injury in the playoffs, will make US$1 million next season. He said his game seemed to be effective in Winnipeg and that he didn’t want to leave a contender.
“I made it pretty clear that I wanted to be back because I believe this team can win,” Pardy said. “We proved that to ourselves last year that we can win and keep winning.”
Halischuk got a two-way deal that pays him $750,000 in the NHL.
The Jets have a handful of other unrestricted free agents, including wingers Jiri Tlusty and Lee Stempniak.
Winnipeg re-signed winger Drew Stafford to a $8.7-million, two-year contract Tuesday night.
July 1, 2015
Winnipeg Jets
