Winnipeg, Canada

Defenseman Tobias Enstrom signed a five-year deal worth $28.75 million with the Winnipeg Jets, believing the team can go places next season.

"I like our defense, I like our goaltending, I like everything about this team. That's one of the reason's I signed. I believe in this team, and I think this year coming up is really important for us," Enstrom said in a conference call from his home in Sweden.

"The move to Winnipeg was fun and it feels like we have a good thing going on. I really like playing in front of all the fans in that city and it made me want to stay. I'm really happy I came to agreement with the Winnipeg Jets," he added.

An early shoulder injury forced Enstrom to miss two months of action but ended the year with 33 points from six goals and 27 assists in 62 games last season to finish second in scoring among the Jets' blueliners.

"We saw how hard he worked off the ice to get back and to become a healthy player again to get back in the lineup as quickly as he could," said Jets' general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff. "He's a quality person both on and off the ice and we're really excited about the relationship moving forward."

Cheveldayoff said the intention was always to sign Enstrom to a long-term deal before he would become a free agent and that he values what he brings to the organization both on and off the ice.

"Toby is an extremely smart hockey player that can advance the puck out of the zone with great efficiency," he said. "He is also a player from the offensive side of it, is able to create offensive plays and move the puck to the forwards both from the defensive zone and offensive zone. He does provide a tremendous amount of flexibility and he is extremely committed to wanting to win."

Enstrom was originally drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2003 draft before they transferred to Winnipeg and became the Jets.

He is the Jets' franchise leader among defensemen in games played (380), points (204) and assists (172). His 32 career goals are one shy of former Manitoba Moose Yannick Tremblay for most goals by a defenseman in franchise history.

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