WINNIPEG, July 19, 2023 -The Winnipeg Jets announced today they have agreed to terms with forward Gabriel Vilardi on a two-year contract with an average annual value of $3,437,500.
Vilardi, 23, played 63 games for the Los Angeles Kings in 2022-23 and recorded 41 points (23G, 18A) and 18 PIMs, adding four points (2G, 2A) in five playoff games. The native of Kingston, Ont. has played 152 career NHL games for the Kings and posted 78 points (41G, 37A) and 36 PIMs. Vilardi, L.A.'s first-round pick (11th overall) in the 2017 NHL Draft, was acquired by the Jets in a trade on June 26/23.
Vilardi spent his three-year junior career in the OHL with the Windsor Spitfires and Kingston Frontenacs and he recorded 157 points (68G, 89A) and 40 PIMs in 143 games. He also had 32 points (14G, 18A) in 28 OHL playoff games and he was on the Spitfires team with Jets defenceman Logan Stanley that won the 2017 Memorial Cup. Vilardi made the tournament all-star team after posting seven assists in four games for Windsor. Internationally, he won gold for Canada at the 2021 World Championships and recorded one assist and six PIMs in 10 games.
