Jets sign Thomas Milic to three-year, entry-level contract

The Winnipeg Jets announced Friday they agreed to terms with 2023 fifth-round pick Thomas Milic on a three-year, entry-level contract with an annual average value of $841,700 that begins in 2024-25.

The 21-year-old made his professional debut with the ECHL’s Norfolk Admirals, going 11-3-2 with two shutouts, a 2.45 GAA and .908 SV%. He would be named an ECHL All-Star.

Milic would join the AHL’s Manitoba Moose, where in 33 regular season games, he would post a 19-9-2 record with a .900 SV%, 2.72 GAA and one shutout. He would win 14 out of his last 19 games, helping the Moose reach the Calder Cup Playoffs.

A native of Coquitlam, B.C., Milic played for the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) Seattle Thunderbirds in 2022-23, posting a 27-3-1 record with a 2.08 GAA and .928 SV% in the regular season. He would lead the club to a 2023 WHL Championship after going 16-3 with a .933 SV% and 1.95 GAA in the playoffs, and was named WHL Playoff MVP.

He won the Del Wilson Trophy as the WHL’s Goaltender of the Year and was selected to the Canadian Hockey League’s First All-Star Team.

He has represented Canada twice on the international stage, playing one game in the 2023 Spengler Cup, stopping 16 of 18 shots. He also earned a gold medal at the 2023 World Junior Championship, where he was a perfect 5-0-0 with a .923 SV% and 1.76 GAA.

The 2023-24 Jets finished 52-24-6 with 110 points, second in the Central Division. They were eliminated in five games to the Colorado Avalanche. Forward Mark Scheifele led the team in scoring with 72 points (25 goals and 47 assists), followed by defenseman Josh Morrissey with 69 points (10 goals and 59 assists).