The 26-year-old defenseman, who was a restricted free agent, avoided a salary arbitration hearing scheduled for Friday.
"I don't think either side really wants to go to arbitration," Pionk said Thursday. "Obviously I've heard it's kind of a messy process and we came to a conclusion that this was the best deal for both sides.
"I think each side probably had to give up a little bit and that's where we met in the middle, negotiated, so to speak. So maybe some people say I left money on the table, other people say, my good friends, say I'm overpaid. So, it depends who you ask. I'm just really excited that it worked for both sides and that I'm able to be part of the team for the next four years."
Pionk led Jets defensemen with 32 points (three goals, 29 assists) in 54 games last season and had four assists in eight Stanley Cup Playoff games.
He scored an NHL career-high 45 points (six goals, 39 assists) and 25 power-play points in 71 games in 2019-20, his first season with Winnipeg after he was traded from the New York Rangers on June 17, 2019, for defenseman Jacob Trouba.
Signed by New York as a free agent May 1, 2017, Pionk has scored 117 points (16 goals, 101 assists) in 226 regular-season games with the Jets and Rangers and has six assists in 12 playoff games.
Jets forward Andrew Copp signed a one-year, $3.64 million contract Thursday. The 27-year-old forward, who was a restricted free agent, avoided a salary arbitration hearing scheduled for Aug. 26.
Pionk led Jets defensemen with 32 points (three goals, 29 assists) in 54 games last season and had four assists in eight Stanley Cup Playoff games.
He scored an NHL career-high 45 points (six goals, 39 assists) and 25 power-play points in 71 games in 2019-20, his first season with Winnipeg after he was traded from the New York Rangers on June 17, 2019, for defenseman Jacob Trouba.
Signed by New York as a free agent May 1, 2017, Pionk has scored 117 points (16 goals, 101 assists) in 226 regular-season games with the Jets and Rangers and has six assists in 12 playoff games.
Jets forward Andrew Copp signed a one-year, $3.64 million contract Thursday. The 27-year-old forward, who was a restricted free agent, avoided a salary arbitration hearing scheduled for Aug. 26.
NHL.com staff writer Tim Campbell contributed to this report
