Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has six pending restricted free agents (RFAs) on his books this offseason, from higher-profile players to American Hockey League (AHL) depth.
Here, we’ll take a look at every RFA in need of new a deal and their 2025-26 performances.
NHL Roster
Cole Perfetti
The Jets were hoping Perfetti would take another step forward in the second and final year of his bridge deal — especially after scoring the Manitoba Miracle in last spring’s first round — but he took a step back.
The 24 year old recorded just 32 points (12 goals, 20 assists) this season, down from a career-high 50 (18 goals and 32 assists) last season.
He missed the first 14 games of the campaign with a high-ankle sprain he suffered in the team’s final preseason game, and even though he returned in November, he did not look comfortable until the new year. He admitted in his exit interview he came back from injury “a hair too early” and that it “took awhile” to get back up to speed.
“I don’t know if I was necessarily mentally there to get back yet,” he said. “I think early on, I was a little hesitant and wasn’t playing my game. Really after Christmas, it started to get a little bit better. And then really around the Olympic break is when I started to feel full confidence and I felt like my game started to get that chippiness back, get the speed back, get the legs going, started making plays a lot more.”
Indeed, Perfetti recorded just seven points in his first 24 games through the end of December, but picked it up by putting up 25 points in his final 44.
The 2020 first-rounder hasn’t exactly put himself in the best situation to justify a significant raise from the $3.25 million average annual value (AAV) his expiring two-year bridge holds. However, a longer-term deal still seems on the table and is something he’s is open to.
“That (getting a long-term deal) would be a real honour to have the team show that and express that faith in you as a player and as a person,” said Perfetti. “(That) they want you to be here long term. That they want you to be a player within this organization for the future. But obviously, I can’t speak for their side. I know where I stand, but can’t speak for them.”
Isak Rosen
The Jets acquired Rosen from the Buffalo Sabres at the 2026 Trade Deadline as the main piece in return for defencemen Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn.
The speedy Swedish left winger got an immediate NHL opportunity in Winnipeg and scored three goals in 21 games down the stretch while averaging 10:42 in ice time. He finished with six goals and four assists for 10 points in 37 games between the Jets and Sabres.
Rosen, selected by the Sabres 14th overall in 2021, has been highly productive at the AHL level, with 87 goals and 185 points in 231 games over parts of four seasons with the Rochester Americans. He put up 25 goals and 18 assists for 43 points for them in just 37 games this season prior to the trade.
The 23 year old’s entry-level contract has expired and the most-logical path forward seems to be a two-year bridge deal to give the organization more time to see exactly what they have in him.
AHL Roster
Jaret Anderson-Dolan
The 26-year-old forward finished second on the Manitoba Moose in points with 36 (13 goals, 23 assists), improving his output in the AHL by 17 from last season.
He did not receive a callup to the Jets this season playing seven regular-season games and five playoff games with them in 2024-25 in the first year of a two-year deal with a $775,000 AAV.
Tyrel Bauer
The rugged defenseman and enforcer, in his fourth season with the Moose, tallied five points (one goal, four assists) in 52 games and also engaged in a number of ferocious fights. One of the toughest players in the AHL, the 24 year old dropped the gloves seven times and racked up a personal AHL career-high 110 penalty minutes.
He also racked up three Moose 2025-26 Player Awards — his second-straight Richard Bue Ultimate Teammate Award, the fan-voted Fan Favourite Award, and the EPRA Julian Klymkiw Community Service Award — before winning the Yanick Dupré Memorial Award as AHL Man of the Year.
He is coming off a two-year contract with a $775,000 AAV.
David Gustafsson
The 26 year old centre, who fell out of the Jets plans and did not receive a callup this season after playing 149 games with them over the past six seasons, recorded 10 goals and 22 assists for 32 points in 48 games with the Moose.
The 2018 second rounder would have likely led the Moose in scoring if not for an undisclosed injury that caused him to miss around seven weeks combined in February, March, and April.
He is coming off a two-year deal with a $835,000 AAV.
Isaac Poulter
The Winnipeg-born goaltender spent most of his season in the ECHL with the Norfolk Admirals, but did play three games with the Moose, posting a 2-0-0 record, 2.83 goals against average (GAA), and .885 save percentage (SV%). In the ECHL, the 24 year old went 25-17-1 with a 2.76 GAA, .905 SV%, and one shutout.
He is coming off a one-year contract with a $775,000 AAV.
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