Jets lock up forward Connor with $96M extension

The Winnipeg Jets took attraction of concern connected the eve of their regular play opener, signing apical guardant Kyle Connor to an eight-year, $96 cardinal hold connected Wednesday. The woody carries a 12 cardinal AAV.

This is present the richest declaration successful Jets' franchise history, earned by 1 of their astir accordant performers. Drafted by Winnipeg seventh wide successful 2025, Connor has scored 30 oregon much goals successful 7 of his 8 afloat NHL seasons to day and surpassed the 40-goal people successful 2 of his past 4 campaigns.

In 2024-25 helium collected a career-high 56 assists and 97 points successful 82 games and ranks apical 20 among each NHL skaters successful goals (153) and points (331) since 2021.

Winnipeg finished atop the league standings past play with a 116-point effort that lone carried them to a second-round playoff decision against Dallas. Keeping Connor successful the fold was captious for the Jets to support their presumption arsenic a contending squad successful the Western Conference. Winnipeg's halfway includes Hart and Vezina Trophy winning goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, apical halfway Mark Scheifele and blueliner Josh Morrissey.

Connor, 28, is present 1 of 4 Jets -- including Scheifele, Gabriel Vilardi and Neal Pionk -- locked successful done 2030.

This could beryllium the commencement of a large twelvemonth for Connor. He represented Team USA astatine the 4 Nations Face-off successful February and was portion of their Olympic predisposition camp implicit the summertime up of NHL players returning to enactment successful the 2026 Milan-Cortina Games.

Winnipeg hosts their archetypal crippled of the play connected Thursday astatine location against the Stars.