The Winnipeg Jets’ season ended suddenly and raised more issues than they had anticipated. The focus is now on the Jets’ current group of unrestricted free agents as the offseason activities take center stage. Numerous important players are nearing the conclusion of their contracts, and many are unsure about what lies next for them. This series of articles raises the question: Are they planning to move on from Winnipeg or stay put?
The Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon is the subject of today’s free agent discussion because it looks like he will be an unrestricted free agent. In the past, Dillon has declared his love for Winnipeg and that he would be amenable to an extension, but as of right now, that appears uncertain.
Fans are wondering if they should get ready to move on from Dillon or if they should anticipate the rugged defenseman to stay next season after a successful contract season. Over the previous three seasons, Dillon has been a constant in the Jets’ defensive top four; the 2023–24 campaign was no exception. Stapled to Neal Pionk’s second pairing effectively, Dillon found success on his own in his role while averaging about 19 minutes of ice time per game. Dillon has never been a particularly dominant offensive player, so having him contribute more points was a big help for the Jets’ defense. Following an eight-goal regular season and an additional goal in the postseason, With nine goals in all this season, he has set a new career high in the NHL. As a matter of fact, it was his highest goal total since he played junior hockey for the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League.
Dillon showed that he was more eager to participate in shot selection and offensive aggression, even though this doesn’t mean he has totally altered his style to display more offensive strength. The Jets got a lot of use out of the large defender this season when they combined it with an already strong, aggressive defensive style.
Dillon’s style is all about size and physicality; he led the club in hits for the second straight year with a career-high 241. Fans have grown to adore this facet of his game since it’s simply who he is. He does a great job of making things difficult for the opposition squad.
Not only that, but he frequently answers the bell first when someone challenges him to a fight or when he needs to defend one of his colleagues. This season, Dillon and Adam Lowry were tied with seven fighting majors each. Rick Bowness, the now-retired head coach, aimed to foster an attitude that said, “You go for one of us, you’ll get all of us.”
