WINNIPEG – The Winnipeg Jets waded into the free agent waters on Friday as they signed forward Shawn Matthias.
Matthias’ agent, Rich Evans, the CEO of Points West Sports and Entertainment first released the deal on twitter.
The Jets later announced it’s a two-year contract worth an average of $2.125 million per season.
“Shawn is someone we’d had some interest in the past on.” said Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff. “The fit was right. He can play different positions. He can play centre, he can play wing, can kill penalties, big body, always around the net.”
Matthias, 28, has played nine seasons in the NHL with the Florida Panthers, Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs and Colorado Avalanche.
“Winnipeg has been a place I played in and it’s so loud and the fans are going crazy and I just can’t wait to get started.” said Matthias.
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Last season he appeared in 71 games with the Leafs and Avalanche where he registered 12 goals and 16 assists. He was originally selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the second round of the 2006 NHL Draft.
“The biggest thing for me was to go to a team that I think could win in the next couple years and be apart of that.” Matthias said. “I truly believe that this team I could grow with and be apart of and win.”
LISTEN: Raw Shawn Matthias Phone Interview
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