The Winnipeg Jets have officially signed defender Dylan Samberg, a restricted free agent, to a three-year deal for $17.25 million, with a $5.75 million average yearly cost hit. The contract, which stays out of arbitration, keeps one of the team’s key blue-liners for the 2027–2028 campaign.
Who Is Dylan Samberg?
Samberg, who was first selected by the Jets in the second round (43rd overall) in the 2017 NHL Draft, has spent four seasons as a mainstay on Winnipeg’s blue line. He is 26 years old, has played in 216 NHL games, with 51 points (9 goals, 42 assists), and established himself as a dependable and physically strong player.
Samberg was one of the team’s top defensive players during the previous season, averaging 21 minutes and 8 seconds per game. He also excelled in contact metrics and shot suppression. He has 343 blocks and 233 hits in his career, and he led the Jets in blocked shots with 120 last season.
Why This Extension Matters
Stability & Growth Potential
Samberg’s acquisition gives the Jets stability and continuity on the blue line as they continue to rise following their 2024–25 Presidents’ Trophy victory. His performance and ice time suggest that he is prepared to continue to be an anchor in the top four pair.
Avoiding Hold-Up & Arbitration
Samberg had just closed a $1.4 million AAV contract and had filed for arbitration. By extending his contract, Winnipeg gave all parties clarity and avoided the possibility of a one-year award with no future assurance.
What Samberg Brings to the Jets
Defensive Reliability
Samberg is trusted in a variety of matches and plays with a physical advantage. His presence and shot-blocking have contributed to the Jets’ consistency in the neutral zone and penalty kill. He is relied upon by coaches to hold the back end and shut off opposition forwards.
Top-Four Availability
Alongside seasoned players like Neal Pionk, who also inked a long-term pact earlier in the summer, he is a perfect second-pair option due to his dependable defensive abilities, despite his limited offensive output. Samberg’s growth guarantees that the Jets will always have a core group of reliable defenders.
Value Insight
Samberg is rated as a mid-tier cost for a reliable top-four NHL blueliner at $5.75 million AAV. For a club aiming for lengthy postseason runs, his matchup readiness, special teams role, and strength make him a good deal.
Where Samberg Fits in 2025–26 and Beyond
With the Jets Defense Core
Samberg joins Pionk (29, six-year deal) and Haydn Fleury (two-year, $1.9M extension) as established roster fixtures. The trio will anchor the backend depth chart. Meanwhile, younger defenders like Isaak Phillips and prospect Alfons Freij will compete for ice time as developing options.
In Special Teams & Systems
Samberg will probably continue to play a significant role in defensive zone situations and on the penalty kill. He may also be used in shutdown pairs or in late-game circumstances where poise and control are needed.
Long-Term Projection
The agreement, which runs until 2027–2028, gives time to assess Samberg’s future development. As Winnipeg develops around its key players, his performance may make him a cornerstone or trade bait.
Key Takeaways
Smooth contract talks: Avoided arbitration and locked in key depth with cost certainty.
Performance-backed reward: Samberg’s shot-blocking leadership and ice-time growth warranted the commitment.
Roster stability: His extension complements other core agreements and ensures defensive consistency for playoff contention.
Summary: A Smart Extension with Long-Term Value
The Winnipeg Jets have shown their trust in Dylan Samberg by extending his contract by three years at a cost of $17.25 million. Armed with physicality, stability, and ice-time readiness, he starts the season as a reliable top-four defenseman.
Samberg offers experience and current value at a fair cap price, and keeping reliable defenders like him might be crucial as the Jets continue to pursue their postseason goals.