The Jets have inked one of their remaining restricted free agents, announcing that they have re-signed winger Nicolas Kerdiles to a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will pay the league minimum of $650K in the NHL while his minor league salary is $150K, per Postmedia’s Ken Wiebe (Twitter link).
Winnipeg acquired Kerdiles back in June from Anaheim in exchange for center Chase De Leo in what amounts to a swap of players that could benefit from a change of scenery. Although the 24-year-old got into four games with the Ducks back in the 2016-17 postseason, he wasn’t able to parlay that into a spot on the roster last season. He suited up in just two games in Anaheim while spending most of his season with AHL San Diego where he picked up 15 goals and 19 assists in 49 games.
While he will get a look with the Jets in training camp, Kerdiles will likely be AHL-bound once again when the season gets underway in October. While he will have to clear waivers to do so, he passed through unclaimed last year and should do so once again.
The Jets still have some work to do this summer. The team still has a trio of players to re-sign, headed up by defenseman Josh Morrissey. Goaltender Eric Comrie and winger J.C. Lipon are also in need of new deals and will likely join Kerdiles with Winnipeg’s AHL affiliate in Manitoba.