In a move prioritizing stability and sidestepping the potentially drawn-out process of salary arbitration, the Winnipeg Jets announced Monday they have come to terms with forward Morgan Barron on a new contract. The agreement is a two-year deal valued at $3.7 million in total.
This contract carries an annual average value (AAV), commonly known as the salary cap hit, of $1.85 million per season. Securing Barron at this figure for two years provides the Jets with cost certainty and a defined roster spot filled at a predictable rate.
Barron, a 26-year-old who hails from Halifax, Nova Scotia, has become a reliable fixture in the Jets lineup since his arrival via trade from the New York Rangers in March 2022. He was part of the transaction that saw forward Andrew Copp head to Manhattan.
During the most recent regular season, Barron participated in 74 games for Winnipeg, tallying 15 points on the strength of 8 goals and 7 assists. He also dressed for all 13 of the team`s playoff contests, contributing two assists in the post-season.
Originally drafted by the Rangers in the sixth round, 174th overall, in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Barron has accumulated 60 career points (30 goals, 30 assists) across 256 NHL games played spanning five seasons with both the Rangers and the Jets.
From a team management perspective, reaching an agreement before an arbitration hearing is generally considered a sensible approach. It bypasses a potentially confrontational setting and avoids the outcome of a one-year award, which might necessitate repeating the process the following off-season. For Barron, it guarantees two years of employment and financial security. This signing might not generate the same buzz as a high-profile free agent acquisition, but these types of depth signings are crucial components in building and maintaining a competitive roster in the NHL`s salary cap era.
