- Jets sign defenseman Mario Ferraro to a three-year contract in free agency
- Deal carries a $4 million cap hit and an eight-team no-trade clause
- Read below for the terms, Ferraro’s numbers, and where he fits in Winnipeg
Mario Ferraro is heading to Winnipeg.
The Jets signed the longtime Sharks defenseman to a three-year contract on Wednesday, pulling one of the top blueliners off the free agent board. It comes in at a $4 million cap hit, $12 million across the deal, with an eight-team no-trade clause attached.
PuckPedia laid out the terms:
Ferraro ranked as the No. 7 player available in unrestricted free agency this summer. Kevin Cheveldayoff landed a 27-year-old top-four defenseman without giving up a single asset to do it.
The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta was first to report the signing when the market opened at noon:
The Toronto native played all 82 games for San Jose this past season, putting up seven goals and 16 assists for 23 points while logging just over 21 minutes a night. He was a second-round pick by the Sharks in 2017 and never wore another jersey until Wednesday.
None of this is a shock. Ginohard covered it back in May when Elliotte Friedman flagged Ferraro as likely headed to free agency rather than re-signing in the Bay Area.
Winnipeg has been busy. Ferraro joins a Jets blue line the same week the team added goalie Stuart Skinner, with the Connor Hellebuyck trade chatter still hanging over the offseason.
One number stands out. Ferraro has skated in 490 regular season games and hasn’t played a single Stanley Cup Playoff game. In Winnipeg, that drought should end in a hurry.
