A day after agreeing to the long-term deals that will keep them in the Manitoba capital, Jets stars Connor Hellebuyck and Mark Scheifele were adamant about two things: they want to win, and they want to do it in Winnipeg.
Jets fans had much to be thankful for Monday as the team announced its star goaltender and first-line centre Mark Scheifele had put pen to ink on identical, seven-year, US$59.5-million contract extensions with an average annual value of US$8.5 million.
The duo, both 30, have spent their entire careers to date with the franchise — Scheifele as the team’s first-ever draft choice in 2011, and Hellebuyck chosen with the 130th overall pick in the following year’s draft.
Both players, who were set to enter the 2023-24 season on expiring contracts, were the subject of trade talks throughout the off-season prior to the surprise announcement on Monday of the long weekend.
At a news conference Tuesday morning, both players cited the organization and their teammates as reasons to stick with the Jets.
“I think that was the most important aspect when I really looked at it,” Hellebuyck said. “This organization believes in me the way I believe in myself… it’s really hard to leave that, and that breeds success.
“Now I’m ready to be a Jet for life and bring a Cup to this city, because I really believe we can get it done here.”
Scheifele compared the signing to his experience over a decade ago, signing his first NHL contract with the club.
“It’s pretty wild how things happen, and there’s nothing I want more in this world than to win a Stanley Cup with the Winnipeg Jets,” he said.
Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said the winning attitude of both players made the extensions an obvious decision for the team.
“What they’ve committed to our organization and what our organization has committed to them speaks volumes about what they want — they want to win,” Cheveldayoff said.
“Both of these individuals have a unique desire to win and both of these players want to win with the teammates they have here… and that was music to my ears.”