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Golden Knights land ex-Jets defenseman on 1-year contract
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- Golden Knights land ex-Jets defenseman on 1-year contract
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On Wednesday night, the Vegas Golden Knights signed former Winnipeg Jets defenseman Ville Heinola to a one-year, one-way contract worth $850,000, giving the 2019 first-round pick a fresh opportunity after his NHL career stalled in Winnipeg.
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Heinola, selected 20th overall in the 2019 NHL Draft, entered the league with high expectations and made an immediate impression. At just 18 years old, he earned a spot on the Jets' opening-night roster and recorded one goal and four assists for five points in his first eight NHL games. During that stretch, he averaged nearly 20 minutes of ice time per game, saw power-play action, and became the first player born in the 21st century to reach the scoresheet with both an NHL goal and an NHL point.
Despite that promising debut, Heinola never secured a permanent role with Winnipeg. Across six NHL seasons with the organization, he appeared in only 58 regular-season games. While he consistently displayed offensive ability and puck-moving skills, he frequently moved between the Jets and the Manitoba Moose, producing at nearly a point every other game from the blue line in the American Hockey League. However, healthy NHL rosters often left him either back in the minors or out of the lineup.
Winnipeg also continued to give opportunities to other defensemen, including Logan Stanley , Colin Miller , Haydn Fleury and several veteran depth options, while Heinola failed to regain a regular place in the lineup.
His path became even more difficult before the 2023-24 season when a fractured ankle suffered during training camp required surgery. Recovery complications further delayed his return, derailing what many viewed as his best chance to earn a full-time NHL role.
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Because Heinola did not reach the required number of NHL games, he became a Group 6 unrestricted free agent, allowing him to leave the Jets. He was reportedly linked to the New York Rangers before he ultimately signed with Vegas.
The 24-year-old joins the organization after making an impression with Finland at the IIHF World Championship. For the Golden Knights , the signing is a chance to take a flyer on a defenseman who has flashed plenty of potential but is still searching for a long-term NHL home.
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