The Winnipeg Jets have locked up centreman Adam Lowry for the next five seasons. On Friday afternoon, the Jets announced the multi-year deal for the 28-year-old Lowry – a player to whom has been with the organization since his draft day in 2011.
“I told my agent I wanted to be back in Winnipeg,” Lowry told reporters Friday afternoon. “That was kind of the driving force and that was at the top of my priority list. Ideally, I wanted to remain a Jet. There certainly is some uncertainty going to the marketplace. You saw what happened last year with the flat cap and with the pandemic and things like that. First and foremost, talking with my agent, Craig Oster (of Newport Sports Management), it was important I wanted to remain in Winnipeg and I wanted a deal with some term on it. Fortunately, I was able to get both of those things, so I’m ecstatic with how it worked out.”
Selected 67th overall by the then first-year Jets in the third round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Lowry has been a force to reckon with down the middle of the ice in Winnipeg for about as long as any Jets 2.0 fan can recall. Scoring a timely goal in the team’s first playoff run since returning to Winnipeg, the big forward helped lead his team in points during last season’s abbreviate ‘bubble’ postseason.
Not known as a team that typically hands out extensions midseason, Lowry said GM Kevin Cheveldayoff made an exception to his rule in order to make this contract work for both sides.
“I’m happy it didn’t take too long and we were able to come to terms that I think we’re both happy with it,” he reflected. “It was one of those things that it’s nice to have out of the way, it’s nice to know where I’ll be. The unknown, maybe a little bit of risk of some injury, but I’m thrilled to be staying in Winnipeg. I’m thrilled to know that I’ll be here for the next five years and really looking forward to it.”
Following a one-year stint with the American Hockey League’s St. John’s IceCaps during the 2013-14 season, Lowry made the jump to the big leagues in a full-time role with Winnipeg. Since his arrival he has enjoyed his role as the team’s third line centreman, providing shutdown duties and a willingness to play a tough-styled game.
Suiting up alongside a number of familiar teammates over the course of his stay in Manitoba has been important to Lowry. In fact, so important that he figured he’d sign long-term based on nearly his enjoyment factor alone.
“I look at the makeup of our team and really believe we have a great chance to win,” Lowry added. “We’re given every opportunity, through the management, through the ownership, they treat us very well here and we’re very fortunate in that sense. Playing in Winnipeg, we have such a good fan base. The people here are awesome. There are so many things that go into wanting to stay. I’m very fortunate and very pleased that we were able to work on a deal that works, and I look forward to these next five years.”
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In 452 regular season games with the Jets, Lowry has 65 goals, 143 points and 228 penalty minutes to his name. He has also added three goals, nine points and 12 penalty minutes in 31 postseason matchups in Winnipeg.
“It’s a terrific organization top to bottom,” Lowry said. “We have a lot of great people in this organization, I’ve got a lot of very close friends on the team. Growing up in this organization, being drafted, coming up through the AHL, ultimately making the NHL and playing my first seven years in Winnipeg – it was important to me. I wanted to stay here.”
Despite having his father join the team as a member of the coaching staff for the 2020-21 season, Lowry said that he certainly would have still signed the deal, should his family situation have been different.
“I don’t think if my dad wasn’t brought in that would have changed my desire to stay in Winnipeg long term,” he said. “It’s an added bonus. It’s nice having him on the bench. Being able to interact with him and work with him everyday, see how he approaches his job, and see the hard work he puts in. But that wouldn’t have changed my opinion of Winnipeg, or changed my desire to stay here… I’m very lucky that I get to go to work and my dad happens to be there and be one of my bosses. I don’t think it had any impact either way, it’s just a cherry on top.”
