Jets, Barron avoid arbitration on 2-year contract

The Winnipeg Jets avoided arbitration with restricted free-agent forward Morgan Barron on a two-year pact with an average annual value of $1.35 million, the team announced Monday.

Barron's arbitration hearing was set for August 2. He wrapped up a three-year pact with a cap hit of $925,000 this past campaign.

The 24-year-old set new career highs with eight goals and 21 points while appearing in 70 games for the Jets in 2022-23. He also made his playoff debut this spring, appearing in all five contests against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Barron was injured in Game 1 against the eventual Stanley Cup champions after taking a skate to the face, but he was able to return to the game after receiving more than 75 stitches.

The New York Rangers selected Barron in the sixth round of the 2017 NHL Draft. The Jets acquired Barron at the 2022 trade deadline as part of the package that sent Andrew Copp to the Big Apple.