Jets sign defenceman Leon Gawanke to a one-year, two-way contract

The Winnipeg Jets announced today they have agreed to terms with defenceman Leon Gawanke on a one-year, two-way contract with an average annual value in the NHL of $750,000.

Gawanke, 23, played 65 games for the Manitoba Moose last season and recorded 36 points (10G, 26A) and 19 penalty minutes. His 26 assists led the Moose in 2021-22, while his 36 points led Manitoba defencemen and were fourth on the team. Gawanke also made his AHL playoff debut in 2021-22 and recorded four points (1G, 3A) and four PIMs in five games. This was his third AHL campaign and he has totaled 69 points (15G, 54A) and 47 PIMs in 139 regular season games.

Gawanke, Winnipeg’s fifth-round pick (136^th overall) in the 2017 NHL Draft, played 178 games over three seasons with the QMJHL’s Cape Breton Screaming Eagles and recorded 121 points (29G, 92A) and 91 PIMs. He added 13 points (4G, 9A) and 13 PIMs in 27 playoff games for Cape Breton. Gawanke, a Berlin, Germany native, has appeared internationally multiple times, including the last two World Championships. He recorded three points (2G, 1A) over 14 games at the pair of World Championships as Germany made the quarter-finals both years, including a fourth place finish in 2021.