WINNIPEG – Considering that the Winnipeg Jets have won 108 regular season games over the past two seasons, have the reigning Hart and Vezina Trophy winner in Connor Hellebuyck and a core that includes Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor and Josh Morrissey, you can see why Gabriel Vilardi was happy to stay for six more years.

Vilardi, who joined the Jets by way of trade in the Pierre-Luc Dubois blockbuster two summers back, turned into the key piece of the deal - which also included mainstay depth forward Alex Iafallo (who has also since signed an extension), draft pick Alfons Freij and the since-departed Rasmus Kupari.