Jets excited for future after big changes in offseason

EDINA, Minn. -- Nate Schmidt and Dylan Samberg know things are going to look very different in Winnipeg this season. But with changes comes a level of excitement that the team is heading in a new and successful future.

"Our team, our core, is one that has been around for a long time," Schmidt said Wednesday at Da Beauty League, a 4-on-4 summer league for collegiate and NHL players with ties to Minnesota. "I think we still have the pieces, but it's fun to see new faces, and guys that are heck of players, so we're excited."

The Jets traded forward Pierre-Luc Dubois to the Los Angeles Kings on June 27 for forwards Gabriel Vilardi, Alex Iafallo and Rasmus Kupari, and a second-round selection in the 2024 NHL Draft. Three days later, forward Blake Wheeler, who was the longest-tenured player on the team (12 seasons), had the final year of his contract bought out before signing a one-year contract with the New York Rangers on July 1.

Winnipeg signed Vilardi to a two-year, $6.875 million contract ($3.4375 average annual value) on July 19, and re-signed forward Morgan Barron to a two-year, $2.7 million contract ($1.35 AAV) on July 17.

The Jets (46-33-3) finished fourth in the Central Division last season and were the second wild card from the Western Conference into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They were eliminated in five games in the first round by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights.

"Losing to Vegas in the first round, it stings a little bit," said Schmidt, a defenseman who played on the Golden Knights from 2017-20. "It also kind of shows that this team has potential, especially the new guys. Hopefully we get that new blood and new excitement about our group.

"I got to tell you, it's not fun watching your season kind of fall apart a little bit at the end, but for guys to be able to at least get to the party in the end (the playoffs), it at least shows that we have some of those answers, but it also shows there's a lot more work to do that."

Samberg anticipates a larger role for himself as well. The 24-year-old defenseman played in 63 regular games last season and had eight points (two goals, six assists) and a plus-10 rating. Samberg also played in all five playoff games.

The Jets were 34-19-1 on Feb. 14, two points out of first in the Central before going 12-14-2 after that.

"Every team is going to have their slump, but I think last year, at least for me, it taught me how much you want to avoid having that slump later in the season," Samberg said. "Now we've got some younger guys, myself included, who are hopefully going to be providing a huge help the year.

"Change is always good, but we've got a good group there. Obviously we're going to miss the guys that move on and we wish the best for them, but I'm excited to meet a couple of guys here and see what they can bring to the table."