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Winnipeg Jets sign restricted free agent Ville Heinola

Winnipeg Jets defenceman Ville Heinola (14) takes a shot on net while taking on the Ottawa Senators in first period pre-season NHL hockey action in Ottawa on September 29, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

The Winnipeg Jets took care of another one of their restricted free agents on Monday.

The Jets signed defenceman Ville Heinola to a two-year contract extension. The new deal will pay Heinola an average of $800,000 per season.

The 23-year-old was all set to become a full-time NHLer last year before he broke his ankle in their final pre-season game. When he became healthy he was assigned to the AHL’s Manitoba Moose where he spent the rest of the season.

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The Finland product scored 10 goals with 17 assists in 41 games with the Moose last season.

Heinola played in a handful of NHL games for the Jets in each of the previous four seasons after the Jets selected him in the first round, 20th overall, in the 2019 NHL Draft.

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In 35 career NHL games with Winnipeg, Heinola has one goal and 10 assists.

Heinola is now eligible for waivers so there’s a pretty good chance he finally sticks with the big club this fall after the off-season departures of Nate Schmidt and Brenden Dillon.

The Jets still have three restricted free agents remaining in forwards Cole Perfetti and Kristian Vesalainen, and defenceman Simon Lundmark.

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