The Winnipeg Jets have signed center Mark Scheifele to an eight-year contract extension, the team announced Friday. While the team team announced that the deal will carry a $6.125 million cap hit.
The 23-year-old has proven himself to be more than capable at both ends of the rink with a 4.02% adjusted CF%Rel last season. He also broke out offensively, scoring 29 goals and 61 points, career-highs in both categories. It was his third full season of NHL play and though he had played well in previous years, it was something of a breakout performance.
He kept that performance going into the 2016 World Championship where he scored four goals and nine points in nine games as Canada stormed their way to a gold medal victory.
With this signing the Jets may have locked up a player who is set to be the leader of the next generation, including Patrik Laine, Nikolaj Ehlers, Jacob Trouba and Marko Dano.
The contract makes him the highest paid forward on the team, surpassing Blake Wheeler’s $5.6 million cap hit, and the second highest paid player on the team overall. He’s second only to Dustin Byfuglien, who is starting a new five-year deal this season that will pay him an AAV of $7.6 million.