For the next three years, the Winnipeg Jets have their shutdown defenseman Dylan Samberg signed for $5.75 million annually, and its three years of controlling each zone with a reliable defender.
The deal broke early in the morning on July 30th as The Athletic’s Murat Ates was first to report.
Samberg and the Jets were set to head to arbitration later that same day, but both sides avoided a one-year deal that would’ve walked Samberg to unrestricted free agency.
Samberg was asking for $6 million on a one-year deal while the Jets wanted to pay Samberg $2.5 million on a one-year deal. It was simply posturing by both sides, but the hearing was avoided and a little bit of term was added.
The 6-foot-4 left-shot defender hails from Saginaw, Minnesota and has evolved his game to be one of the most impactful defenders the Jets have. His 20 points (6G, 14A) and plus-minus of plus-34 were all career highs. To date, he’s posted 51 points (9G, 42A) in 216 career NHL games, all with the Winnipeg Jets.
The 26-year-old will be an unrestricted free agent once this deal expires at the end of the 2027-28 season, and it raises the question if Samberg will stay or go.
Simply put, he will be 29 when he’s due a new deal, and with the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) coming into effect, he’ll be able to re-sign for a maximum of seven years with the Jets and six with a new team.
This contract is one of the better bargain deals for a defensive defenseman that you’ll find in the league. Samberg consistently flies under the radar when it comes to praise simply because he’s efficient and not flashy.
Game in and game out, Samberg does what a minute munching defensive defenseman does best, clear the zone and play defense. You won’t see him on too many highlight reals or see him on the scoresheet regularly. Players like Samberg are assets to their team, especially defenseman, and considering he signed for three-years at $5.75 million total, it should be a steal for the Winnipeg Jets.
Samberg and his defensive partner, Neal Pionk, played 727 minutes together at even strength and allowed just 23 goals against when facing the oppositions best line the majority of the time. Simplicity and effectiveness on the backend is best for any team, and this duo worked hard for the Jets when called upon. As mentioned earlier, Samberg’s plus-minus of plus-34 is a career-high and one that earned him a spot in the top-10 in the NHL when it came to the plus-minus category.
One of the most notable things about Samberg’s game is his jump in time on ice. He averaged roughly 15 minutes per game in his first three seasons in Winnipeg, and that shot up to 21 minutes per night this past season. He was also one of the first guys the team relied on when it came to the penalty kill and a guy they called on to step up when injuries happened at any point in the 2024-25 season.
He was limited to just 60 games in 2024-25, and the Jets went just 11-9-2 in the games he missed. A.500 record isn’t ideal, but considering the Jets posted a win-loss record of 45-13-2 in the 60 games he did play, he’s certainly a driving factor in the teams success. The Jets also were scored on more when Samberg was out of the lineup, as the Jets allowed four or more goals just 18 times in 2024-25, with seven of those occasions without Samberg.
Players like Jaccob Slavin and Dylan Samberg don’t grow on trees, and it’s hard to give players like these two the recognition they deserve. You could even make the argument that that there should be an award for best defensive defenseman and best offensive defenseman, as players like Slavic and Samberg would flourish in the former.
When it come to contracts, the Winnipeg Jets have managed to consistently thrive in today’s cap climate and weather through the storm of the rising cap. Samberg’s going to get better in the next three seasons, and his contract will be hefty when negotiated in three years time. More people will start appreciating this style of defenders if Samberg evolves and puts himself on the radar.
ITR 47: Then There Was Nothing – Inside The Rink
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