The Winnipeg Jets have announced that they’ve re-signed defenseman Ashton Sautner to a one-year two-way contract extension for the 2023-24 season. The 29-year-old has never dressed in an NHL game for the Jets but did dress in 23 NHL games for the Vancouver Canucks over parts of three seasons, putting up three assists while averaging almost 14 minutes a night in ice time.
The Flin Flon, Manitoba native spent last season in his home province with the Manitoba Moose where he posted two goals and ten assists in 68 games. He was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st but with his extension, he will count $775K against the cap while in the NHL. No word yet on his AHL salary.
Saunter spent his entire junior career with the Edmonton Oil Kings and went undrafted before eventually signing with Canucks. He then signed with the Jets last summer as a free agent after spending seven seasons in the Canucks organization mostly in the AHL for the Utica Comets. He spent a season on loan with the Manitoba Moose during the pandemic shortened 2020-21 season as he was able to play in Canada to avoid border restrictions.
He’ll be expected to take a spot in Manitoba’s defense group and could see a call-up to the Jets depending on how the rest of their offseason plays out. Winnipeg could be on the verge of a major re-tool or a rebuild depending on how things shake out with their tradeable assets.