Mark Scheifele seized what he wanted most from restricted free agency: eight years.

The breakout star couldn't contain his excitement shortly after signing a $49-million maximum-term contract extension that will keep him with the Winnipeg Jets through the 2023-2024 season.

"I haven't stopped smiling since I found out," he said.

What he discovered Friday afternoon was that Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff and his staff were willing to tender the maximum allowable term under the Collective Bargaining Agreement to the former seventh overall selection. His delight is born from the belief that the Jets are building toward something special.

"I believe in the organization. I believe in the players that are on the team. I believe in the future prospects of the team. It's an honor to be a part of it, that's what makes it exciting for me. That's what made it just an easy choice to sign for eight years in Winnipeg.

"I'm so honored, and so unbelievably happy."

It was the organization that made the sizable financial commitment, but it was Scheifele's investment in the happenings with the franchise that was most absorbing as he spoke in a conference call.

Scheifele, a self-proclaimed hockey nerd, admitted to streaming the Jets' inter-squad game, and gushed about the prospects he'll soon call teammates as well as the talented collection of players he shares a room with now.

"It does make you excited," he said, "and that's why I wanted to go long term."

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Without even an addition, the Central Division just got mightier.

The Winnipeg Jets and Colorado Avalanche - the two midwest clubs that failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs - locked up stars in succession late Friday afternoon with team-friendly agreements that will assist in closing the gap.

Here are some thoughts on both deals:

Scheifele agrees to 8-year, $49-milllion extension

In placing a max-term investment in their current and future No. 1 center, the Jets have managed to keep the price point low on a player already beginning to perform beyond what's expected from a $6-million-plus player.

Scheifele was one of the most dominant offensive forces in the latter portion of last season. He racked up more points than any player over the final six-plus weeks, and after Bryan Little's injury saw him promoted to the top line with Blake Wheeler and Nikolaj Ehlers.

Reaching his potential in the final season of his entry-level term, Scheifele led the team with 29 goals. And while he placed a distant second to Wheeler in total points, he led Winnipeg in even-strength production rate, ranking among the league's very best.

Player	Points/60
Jaromir Jagr	2.70
Connor McDavid	2.69
Patrick Kane	2.62
Evgeny Kuznetsov	2.54
Sidney Crosby	2.53
Mark Scheifele	2.51

There are 20 centers that take up a bigger slab of the pie next year, and many more to follow as Scheifele plays out his prime years in a Jets sweater. The deal should see Kevin Cheveldayoff recouping value throughout.

Avs lock up MacKinnon with 7-year, $44.1-million pact

Moments later, the Avalanche committed fewer total dollars and less term, but a greater portion of their annual payroll to Nathan MacKinnon, making the former No. 1 overall selection the team's highest-paid player annually.

MacKinnon's entry-level trajectory doesn't reveal the same building progress; his most productive season was his Calder Trophy-winning campaign. But throughout his first three seasons, he was the more impactful scorer at 0.7 points per contest.

It's a bit of a wonder why an eighth year wasn't thrown in, given MacKinnon's age and the already significant investment, but it will increase his chances of fetching a second lucrative long-term contract in his career. He'll hit the market at 27 in his retaining one additional unrestricted season.

MacKinnon has superstar potential, but situational and environmental factors have contributed to him having failed to drive his price into that elite tier. For that reason, it's a safe bet he'll be more than a $6.3-million contributor for a significant portion, if not his entire, seven-year deal.

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Phil Kessel's Stanley Cup triumph didn't come without sacrifice.

The Pittsburgh Penguins forward sustained a hand injury in the first round against the New York Rangers, and had surgery Friday after playing three more series, according to Sportsnet's John Shannon.

Though the severity is unknown, the alleged injury didn't hinder Kessel's performance by any means, as he recorded 22 points in 24 playoff contests.

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DENVER - The Colorado Avalanche have signed forward Nathan MacKinnon to a seven-year deal that runs through the 2022-23 season. The 20-year-old MacKinnon had 21 goals and 31 assists last season. He missed the last 10 games after he sprained a...

The St. Louis Blues have signed forward Landon Ferraro to a one-year, two-way contract, the team announced Friday.

Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Ferraro 24, split 68 games between the Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings last season, scoring five goals and adding five assists.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Dropping the gloves will draw greater punishment in the NHL's top minor league. The AHL has approved new rules to curb fighting, including automatic ejection for players who fight prior to, at, or immediately following th...

The Colorado Avalanche have signed forward Nathan MacKinnon to a seven-year contract extension, the club announced Friday.

The deal carries an AAV of $6.3 million, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

"Signing Nathan to a long-term contract was a priority this offseason," Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic said. "He is going to be a key part of our team for many years to come and it was important to secure his rights going forward."

The 2013 No. 1 pick played out the final year of his entry-level contract last season, scoring 21 goals with 31 assists in 72 games, good for third on the team.

In locking up MacKinnon, the Avalanche only have two contracts left to address. Forward Mikhail Grigorenko and defenseman Tyson Barrie are both restricted free agents, and Colorado has over $7.7 million in cap space to work with, according to General Fanager.

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WINNIPEG - The Winnipeg Jets agreed to terms with restricted free agent centre Mark Scheifele on Friday on an eight-year contract worth $49 million. Scheifele, 23, set a career-high with 61 points in 2015-16. He also scored a career-best 29 g...

Restricted free agent forward Mark Scheifele and the Winnipeg Jets are close on an eight-year contract extension worth $49 million, TSN's Gary Lawless was first to report.

Scheifele's deal is expected to carry a $6.125-million cap hit.

The former seventh overall pick and the first draft selection of Winnipeg in its rebirth emerged as one of the most productive forwards in the NHL in the latter half of the 2015-16 season.

Scheifele scored 17 goals and added 20 assists in 33 games after the All-Star break, hitting the 60-point plateau for the first time in the final season of his entry-level deal.

He led the team with 29 goals and finished second in scoring behind Blake Wheeler.

More to come.

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Vladimir Sobotka appears to be on his way back to the St. Louis Blues.

After rumblings in June that Sobotka would exercise an option in his KHL contract that would allow him to return to the NHL, Blues general manager Doug Armstrong confirmed the 29-year-old will be coming back, according to Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Though the move is not yet official, a reunion seems to be in the works.

Over the last two seasons, Sobotka suited up for Omsk, recording 28 goals and 44 assists in 97 games. He's also registered 123 points in 381 career NHL contests.

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