Winnipeg Jets, Gabriel Vilardi avoid arbitration, agree to two-year contract

WINNIPEG — The Winnipeg Jets and forward Gabriel Vilardi avoided arbitration by agreeing to a two-year contract worth US$6.875 million on Wednesday.

Vilardi’s hearing was set for July 28 after the two sides elected to go to arbitration ahead of the July 6 deadline.

The Jets acquired Vilardi, a 23-year-old from Kingston, Ont., from the Los Angeles Kings last month in a trade that sent centre Pierre-Luc Dubois the other way.

Vilardi had 41 goals and 37 assists in 152 games with the Kings, who drafted him 11th overall in 2017.