According to Sportnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the details of Dylan Samberg’s arbitration filing have become public. Since he can become an unrestricted free agent next offseason, Samberg can only be given a one-year deal by the arbitrator. According to Friedman, the Winnipeg Jets have filed at $2.5MM, while Samberg has filed at $6MM.
As Friedman noted in his report, these filings are strategic, as there’s little to no chance that an honest arbitrator would side outright with Samberg’s camp. Samberg and his representation are likely hoping for the arbitrator to meet somewhere in the middle, giving Samberg a substantial raise on his previous $ 1.4 million salary. Still, if Samberg has a legitimate expectation for $6MM, there’s little chance that he and the Jets will come to a compromise before his arbitration case on July 30th.
He’s coming off a quality year with the Jets, scoring six goals and 20 points in 60 games with a +34 rating, averaging 21:08 of ice time per game. Although his +/- was exceptional, much of that is due to the fantastic play of Connor Hellebuyck this past season. Samberg finished fourth on the team among defensemen (with more than 20 games played) in on-ice save percentage at even strength with a 91.7% rating.
Other notes from the Western Conference:
- In their offseason 2025 Summer Trade Watch List, The Fourth Period asserts that although he hasn’t asked for a trade, San Jose Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro is open to a change of scenery. Ferraro has been in the rumor mill for a few years now, and there’s an argument that the Sharks could move one more defenseman before the start of the regular season. Still, it’s become difficult to trade Ferraro since he’s best positioned as a fifth defenseman on a contending team, and San Jose’s reportedly high asking price of a first-round pick for his services. Now that Ferraro only has one year left on his contract, the Sharks may be more inclined to lower their desired return.
- In a new article from David Staples of The Edmonton Journal, the General Manager of the Edmonton Oilers, Stan Bowman, defended his signing of forward Trent Frederic to an eight-year, $30.8MM contract this offseason. After highlighting his physicality and bulldog mentality, Bowman bordered on calling Frederic irreplaceable in the Oilers’ lineup, saying, “And he’s scored, you know, he scored what, 18 goals twice in a row at a fairly young, younger age. So I think he’s got the game in him. And I think when you add all that up, it comes down to he’s a very unique player. It’s not like if we passed on Frederic, we’ll just go get so-and-so, who’s maybe a little different, but the same type of player. Not a lot of guys like that out there. They just aren’t anymore.“
Stan Nepotism Bowman.
He had 1 good yr in Boston, when he was 3rd line with Coyle and Hall for majority of it, since then only a few games each yr he made a difference
Even if Frederic turns out to be what Stan thinks he is, he still didn’t need to sign him to an 8 year contract.
It was just another head scratcher on Bowman’s part, But there are quite a few of those.
With the way that NHL moves make you scratch your melon, it must be a mess of scars at this point. Maybe hockey isn’t your thing.
A 1st round pick for Mario Ferraro?!? Is Mike Grier smoking some loco weed or something lol. Ferraro is a 3rd or 4th round pick at best.
Yeah he’d be a decent depth pickup for a number of teams but don’t know anyone would go remotely that high.
To the Wings for a 3rd would be the best they could get. He could be the 4th or 5th Dman.
Wants some of that Slavin money.
Only players you even think of signing for 8 years. Are elite difference makers. Frederic is at best a third liner . truth He is just another guy. If coach likes him he plays. If not he sits or is traded.