Report: Jets, Samberg file $3.5M apart ahead of arbitration hearing

The Winnipeg Jets and defenseman Dylan Samberg submitted arbitration filings with a $3.5-million gap ahead of Wednesday's hearing for the restricted free agent, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

The Jets filed at $2.5 million, while Samberg's camp filed for $6 million, per Friedman. Samberg is only eligible for a one-year deal in arbitration because he's a year away from unrestricted free agency.

The two sides can still negotiate until the hearing.

Samberg posted a personal-best 20 points in 60 games last season while averaging a career-high 21:08 per contest. It was Samberg's first year logging top-four minutes, and he flourished in a second-pairing role alongside Neal Pionk, ranking second among all NHL defensemen in Evolving-Hockey's goals above replacement metric (18.9).

The 26-year-old boasts ideal size at 6-foot-4 and 216 pounds. He also blocked 120 shots and threw 56 hits last season.

The Jets have $10.5 million available in cap space. Evolving-Hockey projected Samberg would land a four-year deal with a $4.5-million cap hit.

Winnipeg selected Samberg in the second round of the 2017 NHL Draft.