While the Winnipeg Jets players were out of action Wednesday, the front office staff continued the work of running the True North franchise. General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff is working on an extension for team captain Adam Lowry since he successfully locked up the sniper Kyle Connor earlier in the season. That ultimately paid off, as the NHL team reached an agreement with Lowry’s agent Craig Ooster with a five-year extension, giving Adam a pay increase of $5 million per season.
Here’s how PuckPedia has the captain’s new deal in sight, although any signing bonuses or no-trade clauses would not yet be known:
The new contract allows the 12-year veteran to remain with the franchise that drafted him in the third round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.67th overall). During Lowry’s career, he has become one of the premier strikers in the league. He scored 276 points in 782 games while doing his best to limit scoring opportunities for Winnipeg’s opponents. Over the past three seasons, Adam has been a model of consistency. He posted campaigns of 36, 35 and 34 points and became the heart and soul of the Jets team. Make no mistake: Winnipeg’s recent solid defensive play over the past few seasons wouldn’t have been possible without Lowry deploying a third line capable of shutting down the NHL’s best forwards.
The center will be 33 years old when the new deal starts next season, so he won’t get another chance to play in free agency until the forward is 38 years old. Lowry becomes the fourth core member to be locked up by the Jets into his late 30s, joining the aforementioned Connor, Mark Scheifele& Connor Hellebuyck.
The latest move leaves the True North franchise with just under $25 million left to spend on the 2026-2027 NHL campaign, with 14 of the 22 or 23 roster spots filled. Of the players signed, the Jets actually have their first and third forwards for next year, as well as their top four defensemen and starting goaltender. They also inked a few more attackers Vladislav Namestnikov & Morgan Barronlikely leaving only 4 starting forwards to fill. Additionally, 7th defender Haydn Fleury will be here next season as well, so Cheveldayoff will have to deal with signing a third defensive duo and a backup goalie. To do that, Chevy will have approximately $2,792,592.66 to $3,141,666.75 per player to fill out the roster, with the biggest payday likely going to the pending Restricted Free Agent. Cole Perfetti.
Certainly doesn’t sound impossible, although there probably won’t be money to acquire multiple high-end free agents in the summer… but that’s usually never really an option for Winnipeg anyway. Maybe some young prospects like this Elias Salomonsson, Nikita Chibrikov, Brad Lambert& Brayden Yager could push for some of the open spots? If you have some cheap or entry-level contracts on the pro list, you can spend more in other areas.
What do you think of Adam Lowry’s new contract? Is it an overpayment based on his offensive production over the past three seasons or do the captain’s intangibles make paying $5 million for a middle-six center worth it? Sound off in the comments section.
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