The Winnipeg Jets have signed Connor Hellebuyck and centre Mark Scheifele to seven-year contract extensions worth $59.5 million with a cap hit of $8.5 million.
Hellebuyck, 30, is coming off a stellar 37-win season in which he had a 2.49 goals-against average, a .920 save percentage and four shutouts, earning him another Vezina nomination as the league’s top goaltender.
Hellebuyck, who won the 2019-20 Vezina, has one more season on his contract worth $7.5 million, with a cap hit of $6.17 million.
The Commerce, Mich., native was the Jets’ fifth-round pick, 130th overall, in 2012. In 445 games with Winnipeg, he had a 238-154-37 record, a 2.66 GAA, .916 save percentage and 32 shutouts.
Scheifele, 30, was the first player selected by the Jets after moving from Atlanta and has 272 goals and 645 points in 723 games.
The 30-year-old forward is excited that both he and Hellebuyck are committed to the Jets long-term.
“I think it was really important, you know, to be a Jet for the next eight years, I think I’m going to be 39 when they’re doing the deal is over. So, to call myself a Jet for life, it’s an honour really. Because not many guys get the opportunity to actually do that and be on one team their entire career,” Scheifele told NHL.com.
Scheifele said that he didn’t talk to Hellebuyck until the deals were almost to the finish line.
“We try not to get into each other’s business too much until it kind of was almost at a point where it was going to be done. Then we kind of figured it out and start talking about it and that, you know, that obviously makes it special to be signing the same deal as Connor. A perennial Vezina contender, one of the best goalies in the league and to do that with him and knowing that he’s the backstop of this team for the rest for the next eight years is huge,” said Scheifele.
With their two key pieces locked up long-term, the Jets will now turn their attention to Wednesday’s season opener against the Calgary Flames.
“It’s nice that it’s finally here. I feel like pre-season felt like forever and, and then, you know, dealing with some of this (contract) stuff takes its toll on you,” said Scheifele. “So, I’m excited that it’s all done and the seasons starting and now we get to go have fun.”