The Winnipeg Jets avoided another arbitration hearing, coming to terms with defenceman Zach Bogosian on a 7 year $36 million dollar deal. The deal carries a cap hit of $5.14 million per season, and comes as the two sides were scheduled for arbitration on Friday.
Bogosian is the third core piece of the Winnipeg Jets to avoid arbitration and sign a long-term deal with the club, after Bryan Little, and Blake Wheeler did similar deals in the last two weeks. Bogosian becomes the last of the major restricted free agents the Jets were working to get under contract. Its been a busy offseason for Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff, who may now finally be kick his feet up and relax.
Last season, the 23-year-old defender scored five goals and added nine assists for 14 points in 33 games. In his career he has 34 goals and 69 assists for 103 points in 297 games.
Bogosian was originally drafted third overall by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2008 NHL Draft and has spent his entire 5-year career with the Atlanta/Winnipeg organization.
USA Hockey recently invited Bogosian to this summer’s orientation camp in preparation for the Sochi Olympics in 2014.
Bogosian is coming off a 2-year $5 million dollar deal which expired at the end of the NHL Season. He could have been an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2015 without this long term deal as the Jets have locked up 5 of his UFA years.
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