Jets sign five depth players on second day of NHL free agency

WINNIPEG - The Winnipeg Jets signed winger Gustav Nyquist to a one-year contract worth US$3.25 million on the second day of NHL free agency Wednesday.

Nyquist produced 11 goals and 17 assists in 79 games split between the Nashville Predators and Minnesota Wild last season.

The 35-year-old Swede has totalled 209 goals and 531 points across 863 career games with Minnesota, Nashville, Columbus, San Jose and Detroit.

Winnipeg also made a series of moves around the edges of its roster Wednesday, signing five players to identical one-year, two-way contracts worth $775,000 in the NHL.

The club inked forwards Phil Di Giuseppe, Walker Duehr and Samuel Fagemo, along with defenceman Kale Clague and goaltender Isaac Poulter.

Winnipeg also waved goodbye to centre Mason Appleton, who agreed on a two-year deal worth US$5.8 million with the Detroit Red Wings.

Di Giuseppe brings the most experience among the players added, with 81 points (28 goals, 53 assists) in 302 career games playing for the Carolina Hurricanes, Nashville Predators, New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks.

The 31-year-old from Toronto registered a goal and five assists in 20 games with Vancouver in 2024-25. He added nine points (four goals, five assists) in 20 contests for the American Hockey League's Abbotsford Canucks before chipping in 11 points (six goals, five assists) across 24 playoff games as part of the team's Calder Cup victory.

Duehr, 27, has 21 points (11 goals, 10 assists) in 92 career NHL games with the Calgary Flames and San Jose Sharks, while the 25-year-old Fagemo has three goals and an assist across 21 contests split between the Predators and Los Angeles Kings.

Clague, 27, has 21 points (two goals, 19 assists) in 94 career games with the Kings, Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres. The 23-year-old Poulter has yet to suit up in the NHL. He posted a 16-13-6 record with one shutout, an .898 save percentage and a 2.86 goals-against average for the AHL's Utica Comets last season. 

Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff had a quiet opening to NHL free agency Tuesday, signing unrestricted free agent forwards Cole Koepke and Tanner Pearson to one-year contracts worth $1 million each.

Winnipeg's one-year deal with centre Jonathan Toews, who's attempting a comeback in his hometown, was also made official, while winger Nikolaj Ehlers continues to weigh his options on the UFA market after a decade in the Manitoba capital.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 2, 2025.