Breaking Sports News: Neal Pionk signs $43M extension

Neal Pionk of Hermantown has signed a six-year, $7.0 million AAV contract extension with the Winnipeg Jets, The Athletic's Murat Ates is reporting. It's a strong contract for the 29-year-old former Bulldogs defenseman.

I published this at the HowieHanson.com about a month ago:

I expect the Jets to offer Pionk approximately $7M for five or more seasons (though he could perhaps fetch more and longer term in the free-agent market) and will focus on term along with his top-four playing partner (Dylan) Samberg (also of Hermantown and a former Bulldog) and offer the later somewhere north of $5.5M for up to eight seasons. Pionk, 29, is earning $5.75M this season (per PuckMedia.com), with $31,350,000 in estimated career earnings. Samberg, 26, is a major bargain and playing for $1.4M in the final year of his rookie contract, with $5.75M in estimated career earnings. Pionk and Samberg are represented by Wasserman agent Pete Rutili.