Jets sign Vilardi to 2-year, $6.875M deal

The Winnipeg Jets signed restricted free-agent forward Gabriel Vilardi to a two-year pact with an average annual value of $3.4375 million, the team announced Wednesday.

His arbitration hearing was set for July 28. The Jets acquired Vilardi from the Kings as part of the trade that sent Pierre-Luc Dubois to Los Angeles in late June.

Vilardi netted a career-high 23 goals and 41 points in 63 contests this past campaign while tying Adrian Kempe for the most game-winning goals on the Kings with six.

The 23-year-old chipped in with two tallies and two assists in five games during Los Angeles' first-round clash against the Edmonton Oilers.

Prior to getting traded up north, Vilardi had spent his entire four-year NHL career in Los Angeles, accumulating 41 goals and 37 helpers in 152 contests. The Kings selected him 11th overall in the 2017 NHL Draft.

Vilardi will be a restricted free agent again when his new pact expires.

The Jets have just under $3.8 million in cap space after inking Vilardi, according to CapFriendly. Winnipeg still has restricted free agents Rasmus Kupari - who was also included in the Dubois swap - and Logan Stanley to deal with.