The Winnipeg Jets have signed goaltender Arvid Holm to a three-year, entry-level deal. The deal will take the newest Jet through the 2022-23 season. They also signed forward Kristian Reichel to a two-year deal. Hockey is nearing its return in North America but teams are still active in signing depth for 2020-21 and beyond. Winnipeg announced the moves late Monday afternoon.
#NHLJets have signed forward Kristian Reichel to a two-year, entry-level contract with an average annual value of $752,500.
DETAILS: https://t.co/fdi8aSBlfx
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) June 15, 2020
#NHLJets sign goaltender Arvid Holm to a three-year, entry-level contract.
DETAILS: https://t.co/lNS8oMrsxV
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) June 15, 2020
Jets Sign Arvid Holm and Kristian Reichel
Holm has been playing overseas in 2019-20. He completed his first season with Farjestads in the SHL, the top league in Sweden. Holm posted a .915 save percentage and 2.27 goals-against-average in 31 games before play ceased. He has improved his numbers in each of the past several seasons since a below-average campaign with Karlskrona HK in the SuperElit division. The Jets selected Holm in the sixth round of the 2017 Draft.
Reichel played for Winnipeg’s AHL affiliate in Manitoba Moose this season. The 22-year-old scored 12 goals and 17 points in 39 games. That is an improvement over his two goals and 10 points in 55 games in 2018-19. Reichel is also not a top prospect but he is a big skater at 6’2″, 188 pounds and could function as an option for the fourth line if he reaches the NHL.
What This Means for the Future
This deal could push Holm into a spot where he competes as Winnipeg’s backup for the next several seasons. The Jets are likely going to let Laurent Brossoit walk away in free agency but the only other goalies signed are Mikhail Berdin and Eric Comrie. Berdin is one of the top prospects in the system but Holm adds depth beyond the exciting young Russian.
Winnipeg still has several decisions to make before free agents reach the open market. Most of the team’s core is under contract but new deals are necessary for players such as Sami Niku and Jack Roslovic. The Jets haven’t been the most active team during the shutdown but they might be ramping up activity as hockey resumes.
