NHL Free Agency: Is Neal Pionk on His Way Out of Winnipeg?

Saturday, March 15, 2025

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Neal Pionk is having the best season of his career, tallying nine goals and 28 assists for 37 points and a career-high +21 plus/minus rating in 66 games. 

His offensive contributions have been significant, particularly on the power play, where his ability to get shots through traffic has created scoring opportunities. He's also averaging 22:09 TOI, his highest number since the 2019-20 season, his first year with the Jets, where he averaged 23:23 ice time per game.

Pionk recently suffered an injury that has him out week-to-week, but there's reportedly no concern that it will prevent him from playing in the playoffs.

With Pionk's contract set to expire after this season, discussions about his future with the Jets have emerged. 

According to Murat Ates of The Athletic, Pionk is "comfortable with how things are going," trusting his agent to handle contract matters. 

Ates suggests that the Jets value Pionk highly and expect him to return, though his offensive production could lead to a higher price point in negotiations.

Pionk signed a four-year, $23.50 million deal in 2021. Now set to test unrestricted free agency again, AFP Analytics projects a six-year deal with an AAV of $6.95 million, drawing comparisons to Mackenzie Weegar's eight-year contract with the Calgary Flames, which carries an AAV of $6.25 million.

Given his performance over his six seasons in Winnipeg, one would think the Jets would be eager to get a deal done. 

The 29-year-old has recorded 36 goals, 214 total points, and a +39 plus/minus rating across 432 games played with the Jets. It will be interesting to see whether the two sides can hash out a deal this summer and what the number will look like.

Photo Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

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