The Winnipeg Jets made one of the day’s bigger free-agent strikes by landing Mario Ferraro, giving the left-shot defenseman a three-year contract with a $4 million salary cap hit per season.
Ferraro comes off the market as one of the more coveted blueliners available. Matt Larkin’s top-50 rankings had him at No. 7 among unrestricted free agents, and Winnipeg moved quickly to bring him in after he reached free agency at noon.
The 27-year-old spent his entire NHL career with the Sharks before this move, after San Jose selected him in the second round of the 2017 NHL Draft. The Toronto native was durable all season long, dressing in all 82 games and putting up seven goals and 16 assists for 23 points while finishing at minus-1 and averaging 21:02 of ice time per night.
Ferraro’s career line now stands at 114 points in 490 regular-season games. One notable line on his résumé still remains blank: he has never appeared in a Stanley Cup Playoff game.
For Winnipeg, the signing fits into a busy offseason for general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff, who has been working through the possibility of trading Connor Hellebuyck while also trying to keep the club competitive now and in the future.
Earlier Wednesday, the Jets added goalie Stuart Skinner, who could back up Hellebuyck if he stays or become part of the answer in goal if the 2025 Hart Trophy winner is moved elsewhere.
With Ferraro added to the mix, Winnipeg’s blue line now includes Josh Morrissey, Neal Pionk, Dylan DeMelo, Dylan Samberg and Ferraro, with Haydn Fleury and other depth options also in the picture for minutes.
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