Having already re-upped with Adam Pardy and Ben Chiarot this summer, the Jets retained another depth defenseman on Friday by giving Paul Postma a two-year, $1.775 million extension.
The deal, which carries an $887,500 cap hit, comes after Postma appeared in a career-high 42 games last year, averaging 14:08 TOI per night. The 26-year-old was a lineup regular for the first three months of the season, but phased out in the second half of the campaign due to healthy scratches and a lower-body injury.
This extension puts Postma firmly back in the mix, however, and it’s a crowded mix...By my count, #NHLJets now have nine D on one-way deals, plus Jacob Trouba - a fixture who will be in Top-4 again this season
— Ken Wiebe (@WiebeSunSports) July 10, 2015
Right now, there are 10 blueliners in the fold: Pardy, Chiarot, Postma, Trouba, Tobias Enstrom, Dustin Byfuglien, Tyler Myers, Mark Stuart, Jay Harrison and Grant Clitsome, who is coming off back surgery. While it’s not surprising to see Winnipeg stockpile bodies -- injuries ravaged the defense last year -- it’ll be interesting to see if the Jets can carry this many contracts, or if a trade will eventually be orchestrated.
Worth mentioning the Jets also have touted prospect Josh Morrissey, the 13th overall pick in 2013, on the horizon.