Jets sign Mario Ferraro to three-year contract

One of the best defensemen available on the free agent market has a new home.

The Winnipeg Jets have signed left-handed defenseman Mario Ferraro to a three-year contract with a $4 million salary cap hit per season, taking one of the top blueliners off the board.

Ferraro, who was the No. 7 player available in unrestricted free agency according to Matt Larkin’s top-50 rankings, was a second-round pick by the Sharks in the 2017 NHL Draft, and he spent the entirety of his career in the Bay Area until hitting the market at noon.

The Toronto native appeared in all 82 games this season, finding the back of the net seven times and dishing out 16 assists for 23 points while skating to a minus-1 rating on an average of 21:02 of time on ice per game.

For his career, Ferraro has 114 points in 490 regular season games, and he has never appeared in a Stanley Cup Playoff game.

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Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has had a busy offseason, navigating the possibility of trading all-world goaltender Connor Hellebuyck while trying to remain competitive this season and beyond.

Earlier Wednesday, Winnipeg landed goalie Stuart Skinner, who will either serve as a backup to Hellebuyck should he return or be a piece of the solution in net if the 2025 Hart Trophy winner is dealt to another team.

With Ferraro in the fold, the Jets have a solid blue line comprised of Josh Morrissey, Neal Pionk, Dylan DeMelo, Dylan Samberg and Ferraro, with Haydn Fleury and other depth pieces hanging around the mix for ice time as well.

Winnipeg is looking to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs after they became the second consecutive reigning Presidents’ Trophy winner to miss out on the postseason altogether last year.