Another restricted free agent (RFA) is off the board for the Winnipeg Jets, this time it’s Ville Heinola who signed a two-year contract extension carrying an average annual value (AAV) of $800,000. The contract will expire at the end of the 2025-26 season and Heinola will remain an RFA with arbitration rights.
The contract will carry a cap hit of $800,000 and will be guaranteed money for the Finnish defenseman. In year one of the contract, Heinola will have a salary of $775,000 and year two will see Heinola earn a salary of $825,000. The qualifying offer at the expiration of the contract is projected to be $866,250.
The Winnipeg Jets will lose waiver exemption status on Ville Heinola, meaning they will have to play him in the NHL or place him on waivers should they try to return him to the Manitoba Moose. I don’t see a world where Ville Heinola won’t make the Winnipeg Jets next year, Kevin Cheveldayoff has added additional defensive depth for the Moose to give Heinola an NHL spot.
Heinola’s 2023-24 season saw him begin the preseason with a promising start which was met later on with an unfortunate ankle injury which saw him face another setback. He posted 27 points (10G, 17A) in 41 games for the Moose this past season and has spent the past five seasons attempting to make the Winnipeg Jets. The Jets’ 2019 first-round pick (20th overall) suited up in 35 career NHL games to date over four seasons for the Jets. He’s racked up 11 points (1G, 10A) and 18 PIMs in his NHL run.
It wouldn’t be long until Heinola signed his three-year, entry-level contract with the Winnipeg Jets on July 15th, 2019, exactly five years ago from his current contract. He made a great impression in eight games for the Jets in 2019-20 where he scored five points (1G, 4A) which included his first career NHL goal on October 8th, 2019.
For the Manitoba Moose, Heinola has been a top defenseman for the club where he’s racked up 102 points (23G, 79A) and 92 PIMs in 152 career AHL games. Heinola has already pushed himself into the top 10 for all-time scoring for a Manitoba Moose defenseman where he’s currently ranked eighth. Heinola has suited up in eight AHL Calder Cup Playoff games for Manitoba scoring eight points (1G, 7A) and eight PIMs in that timeframe.
The Honkajoki, Finland native has represented his home country internationally which is highlighted by three World Junior Championships appearances from 2019-2021. Across 23 games, Heinola posted 13 points (1G, 12A) and 14 PIMs which helped him and his country win a gold medal in 2019 and a bronze medal in 2021.
