Contract Extensions (Jul 7)

You might be able to argue that the Winnipeg Jets may be done with the free agent market now, since they're now looking at the potential market next Summer.  On Thursday, the Jets signed veteran centre Mathieu Perreault to a 4-year contract extension, keeping him away from unrestricted free agency a year from now.

The deal, which starts in the 2018 season, will set the cap hit back about $4.125 million for the four seasons, a good raise from the $3 million cap hit he'll use in the last year of his current deal this season.

Perreault, 28, has been coming along quite nicely for Winnipeg, scoring 9 goals and 41 points last season and he still has a little bit left to achieve, in terms of his potential and the Jets hope that their youth movement can help spark that along.  He should be a steady add for your pool team next year.

Before today, the Vancouver Canucks only had one goaltender signed on for the 2018 season, rookie keeper Thatcher Demko, who hasn't seen any NHL time yet.  On Thursday, they were also looking ahead for the years to come, signing Jacob Markstrom to a 3-year contract extension, potentially making a Markstrom-Demko pairing for the 2018 season and beyond.

Markstrom was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next Summer, but instead will also get a sizable raise to his cap hit, going from $1.55 million in this upcoming 2017 season to $3.67 million in the 2018 season.

The 26-year old Swede didn't exactly have a great season in Vancouver, only registering 13 wins and 28 points in 33 appearances for the club.  Nevertheless, his potential far outweighs what the team in front of him did last season, hence the extension and the future of the club on his shoulders.