Dylan Samberg Inks 3-Year, $17.25M Deal, Avoiding Arbitration

On July 30, 2025, the Winnipeg Jets secured a key piece of their defensive core, signing 26-year-old defenseman Dylan Samberg to a three-year, $17.25 million contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $5.75 million. The deal, finalized just before a scheduled salary arbitration hearing, ensures Samberg’s presence through the 2027-28 season, bolstering the Jets’ blue line after their Presidents’ Trophy-winning 2024-25 campaign.

A Breakout Season for Samberg

Samberg, a restricted free agent (RFA), delivered a standout performance last season, recording career highs of six goals, 14 assists, and 20 points in 60 regular-season games despite missing 21 games due to a lower-body injury sustained blocking a shot against the Nashville Predators on November 23. His +34 plus/minus rating led the Jets and ranked sixth league-wide, contributing significantly to Winnipeg’s 56-22-4 record and their first-ever Presidents’ Trophy as the NHL’s top regular-season team. In the playoffs, Samberg added three assists in 13 games, averaging 24:04 of ice time, the second-highest on the team.

Arbitration Avoided, Stability Secured

The contract negotiations bridged a $3.5 million gap, with Samberg requesting $6 million annually and the Jets offering $2.5 million in arbitration filings. The three-year agreement, a significant raise from his previous $1.4 million AAV, avoids the uncertainty of a one-year arbitration award that would have walked Samberg to unrestricted free agency in 2026. This deal locks in a top-four defenseman known for his two-way play, with 120 blocked shots (team-leading) and a second-ranked 18.9 goals above replacement metric among NHL defensemen, per Evolving-Hockey.

Samberg’s Journey and Role

Drafted 43rd overall by Winnipeg in the 2017 NHL Draft, the 6-foot-4, 216-pound defenseman from Hermantown, Minnesota, has grown into a shutdown defender with strong puck-moving skills. Over 216 career regular-season games, Samberg has tallied 51 points (nine goals, 42 assists) and added three assists in 23 playoff games. His reliability on the penalty kill and clean transition play have made him a vital partner alongside Neal Pionk, complementing stars like Josh Morrissey and Dylan DeMelo. Before turning pro, Samberg won two NCAA championships with the University of Minnesota-Duluth, recording 53 points in 109 games.

Jets’ Offseason Strategy

The Jets’ signing of Samberg completes their re-signing of all three RFAs who filed for arbitration on July 5, alongside Morgan Barron (two years, $3.7 million, $1.85 million AAV) and Gabriel Vilardi (six years, $45 million, $7.5 million AAV). With one RFA, Rasmus Kupari, still unsigned, Winnipeg has also bolstered its forward group by signing Jonathan Toews, Gustav Nyquist, and Tanner Pearson. The team retains $4.79 million in cap space, mindful of Toews’ potential $7 million in bonuses, ensuring flexibility for the 2025-26 season.

Looking Ahead

Samberg’s extension solidifies Winnipeg’s defensive core, with Samberg, Morrissey, DeMelo, and Pionk all signed through 2027-28. His emergence as a top-four defenseman, highlighted by a 2025 Sportsnet report calling him “one of the NHL’s most underrated D-men,” positions the Jets for continued success after their 116-point season. As the team aims to build on their playoff run, which ended in a six-game loss to the Dallas Stars, Samberg’s steady presence will be crucial. Fans on X in 2025 celebrated the deal, with posts like “THREE MORE YEARS OF SAMMY” reflecting excitement for his future contributions.

Final Thoughts

Dylan Samberg’s three-year, $17.25 million contract extension with the Winnipeg Jets marks a pivotal step in securing the team’s defensive foundation. His breakout 2024-25 season, marked by career-best stats and a key role in the Presidents’ Trophy win, underscores his value as a two-way defender. With arbitration avoided and a long-term commitment in place, Samberg and the Jets are poised to chase deeper playoff success. Fans and analysts alike await his continued growth as a cornerstone of Winnipeg’s blue line.

Source: article by nhl.com, published July 30, 2025.

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By Vitalina Andrushchenko, Staff Writer