Jets sign DeMelo to 4-year extension

The Winnipeg Jets announced they signed defenseman Dylan DeMelo to a four-year contract extension worth $4.9 million per season.

DeMelo was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agency July 1 and would likely have been highly sought-after as a reliable right-handed blue-liner. He'll earn a significant raise over the $3-million cap hit he's earned over the past four seasons in Winnipeg.

The Jets acquired DeMelo from the Ottawa Senators in 2020. He set a career high with 31 points this past season and ranked second in the NHL at plus-46. The 31-year-old averaged over 21 minutes per contest and contributed 167 hits along with 139 blocks.

Winnipeg has approximately $8.7 million in flexibility left after signing DeMelo, according to CapFriendly. Brenden Dillon, Sean Monahan, and Tyler Toffoli are among the club's notable remaining free agents.