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Jets sign Adam Lowry to five-year extension |
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Had Adam Lowery chosen to head to unrestricted free agency for the first time in his career, it would have been an understandable decision.
A right certainly owned.
Spending his entire seven-year career to date with the Jets, seeing how other teams valued Lowry and his skillset could have been enticing, and frankly could have earned him more.
But Lowry made it clear there’s no place he’d rather be.
"If you have the opportunity to play your whole career with one organization, you want to jump at that opportunity," said Lowry.
"Knowing the coaching staff here, knowing what the organization's like, it's such a hard opportunity to pass up, being able to sign this extension. I know my role in this organization, I love my teammates, I love playing for this team. I'm thrilled I got it done."
With Lowry’s long-term spot on the depth chart behind Mark Scheifele and Pierre-Luc Dubois firmly in place, the Jets are set down the middle for the foreseeable future, a benefit not many teams across the league have.
“I hope it’s one that we would look at it from Year 1 through 5 that I can stay consistent, I can stay the same player and have a positive impact in the community, on the ice, off the ice, and things like that,” said Lowry.
With a cap hit of $3.25 million annually, it’s a contract that also gives the Jets some salary cap flexibility throughout the five years, and a cap hit that should Lowry regress or a younger player comes in and unexpectedly pushes him down the depth chart, wouldn’t be too expensive to move.
Signing Lowry to the extension was so important, general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff did something that in the past, he’s not done too often.
"I talked to [Cheveldayoff] and he mentioned that generally Winnipeg doesn't do a lot of extensions midseason,” said Lowry. They generally wait for the start of the season or the end of the season to get it done, it’s nice to have it out of the way.”
Through 45 games Lowry has 20 points, nine shy of his career high of 29, set in 2016-17.
“Hopefully I can live up to my end of the bargain and provide solid value for us," he said.
One of the biggest assets Lowry provides is his ability to kill penalties. Only Derek Forbott (119:16) and Andrew Copp (115:16) have seen more shorthanded minutes than the 114:09 Lowry has this season.
Lowry’s 114:09 of shorthanded time on ice also ranks fourth among National Hockey League forwards.
“I know my role’s not necessarily to score goals, but if I can contribute at that end of the rink while still playing solid defensively, contribute on the penalty kill and can do that and continue to get better,” said Lowry
Meeting with the media following his extension, Lowey often mentioned the Stanley Cup, his desire to win one and how close he feels this team to winning one is.
"I really believe in this group that we have in here is a chance to win the Stanley Cup," said Lowry. "I'm looking forward to trying to find that next level, trying to help the team achieve that next level and chase a Stanley Cup.
Winnipeg Jets Blogger • 
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