Winnipeg Jets Re-sign Kyle Connor
The Winnipeg Jets signed left wing Kyle Connor to an eight-year, $96 million contract extension. Connor, 28, will receive a team-leading average annual value of $12 million.
Winnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor (NHL Images)
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Connor is in the final season of a seven-year, $50 million contract ($7.142 million AAV). He was eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. He’s the third notable star from that UFA class to re-sign with his current team in recent weeks, joining Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid and Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov.
Once again, the Jets have retained one of their top core players. Two years ago, they inked goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and center Mark Scheifele to identical seven-year, $59.5 million contracts.
Connor has earned that significant pay raise. Entering this season, he’s eighth among NHL scorers with 282 goals since his breakout season of 2017-18. That includes two 40-plus goal campaigns and two 90-plus point performances, including a career-high 97 points in 2024-25.
The Jets have been a better team since re-signing Hellebuyck and Scheifele, including winning the Presidents’ Trophy for the first time in franchise history last season. That likely contributed to Connor’s decision to stay put.
Connor’s new contract leaves the Jets with over $27.5 million in projected cap space for 2026-27, with 16 active roster players already signed. Their most notable free agents next summer include forward Cole Perfetti (restricted free agent) and team captain Adam Lowry, who is UFA-eligible.
By no way a fan of the Jets but I am happy to see them retain their core as well.
While some yearn for moves around the league I much prefer cores of each team mostly remaining in tact.
I am not sure the retention of the core does anything to shake the perception of Winnipeg for potential future signings of ufas but it certainly doesn’t hurt.
And Cheveldayoff continues to prove that he can retain his top players in Winnipeg.
Not a fan of the Jets either but still glad to see a small-market Canada-based franchise able to retain their best players.
But just wondering what their close fans in here think about their playoff record dating back to when Cheveldayov became GM (June 2011) which, while not a whole lot better than one team in particular who get a lot of flak for their playoff woes, don’t seem to draw anywhere near the same critique:
2012 – missed playoffs
2013 – missed playoffs
2014 – missed playoffs
2015 – lost 1 1st round
2016 – missed playoffs
2017 – missed playoffs
2018 – won 2 rounds – lost Conference Finals
2019 – lost 1st round
2020 – lost qualifying round
2021 – won 1 round – lost Conf. semi-finals
2022 – missed playoffs
2023 – lost 1st round
2024 – lost 1st round
2025 – won 1 round – lost Conf. semi-finals
So, in 14 seasons at the helm he’s missed the playoffs 50% and won 5 rounds. Now, I know of a few teams that would give their eye-teeth to have that records over the past 14 seasons (Ottawa and Buffalo among them) … but really curious at to Jets fan’s take/.
Jets fan here.
The team was a mess when it came from Atlanta, depth was poor and best prospects were Alex Burmistrov and Evander Kane. The first few seasons were doomed before they started.
The 2015 team that made the playoffs was a character team that fought for every inch of ice consistently. Swept by Anaheim even though Ducks only led games in the series for a total of about 5 minutes. In hindsight Paul Maurice had big hand in that success in his first year in Winnipeg.
I think the Laine draft was a setback in spite of the numbers he put up because the identity of the team was comprimised. They set a league record for the number of games played to start a season in 30 days (was 16 or 17 games) therefore no practices in that time as per NHLPA and the team was starting the year with some young players. They hit a skid and never got enough back that year. Is that Chevy’s fault?
Something good was building, RD Trouba forced his hand to move to NY, RD Meyers UFA’d to Canucks, then RD Byfuglien went fishing. The defense was decimated. Hindsight would probably have kept Meyers around to help stabilize things but Buff was a huge loss.
I think we realize now that Chevy’s big contribution is the culture built, there is a lot of trust it seems and players are buying in. He is never going to make a big splash that will upset chemistry or mess up the long term plan.
I see a continueing of good regular seasons and playoffs where we are hoping for a break that lets us win some rounds. We won’t be a playoff dynasty.
Good summary 2.0.
Chevvy is solid, and ya losing Buff was huge. The guy was a unicorn. If I recall it was an ankle injury that wasn’t coming around.
He must have liked Manitoba if he like fishing, even ice fishing, wondering if he still comes back there in June?
Thank you 2.0 for that. From this distant – and infrequent – viewing, if Hellebuyck can improve his playoff performance to the level of his seasonal play they’re a team that could surprise out west.
It’s a process 🙂
I’m not a Jet’s fan, but he is the one who drafted all of their core players right now. Hired June 8th 2011 and the NHL Draft was held on June 24th.
2011 – Scheifele 1st round, Lowry 3rd round
2012 – Trouba 1st round (turned into Neal Pionk and a 2019 1st that hasn’t panned out.), Hellebuyck 5th round.
2013 – Morrissey 1st round
2014 – Ehlers 1st round. Has now moved on as a UFA.
2015 – Connor 1st round,
2016 – Laine 1st round (2nd overall) who turned into Gabriel Vilardi, Alex Iafallo.
That is a pretty good drafting record and this core is going to be an annual playoff team for a bunch of more years.
Wonder if Jets fans like 2.0 would trade Pionk for Trouba straight up?
I sure wouldn’t and I kinda like Trouba as a player. Pionk is an excellent D-man. One of those guys who’s good at everything. He just re-signed last year too.
Another win by Chevvy.
As someone who has multiple KFC jerseys – giddy up!
Original or Extra Crispy?😝
It’s all finger lickin’ good either way