Kyle Connor Extension Pushes Jets to Next Level

The Winnipeg Jets made perhaps their biggest move of the season before the puck dropped on their first regular season contest. The organization and superstar winger Kyle Connor agreed to an eight-year extension worth $96 million, carrying an average annual value of $12 million.

The deal marks a notable shift in the Jets’ organizational progress. They have been steadily improving over the last few years, but this deal with Connor cements that Winnipeg has reached a new level. They are now a coveted destination for players to go to, both to pursue a Stanley Cup and as an ideal home for a long-term contract

Superstar Foundation

The Jets have had a few spurts of greatness since the organization returned to the NHL during the 2011-2012 season. Despite those moments, they still felt like an afterthought in the championship discussion and when it came to attracting and retaining marquee talent. The drafting and subsequent trading away of top draft pick Patrik Laine carved out the reputation that superstars couldn’t be developed there, and even if they emerged, it’s only a matter of time until they depart.

Kyle Connor and several of his teammates completely bucked that trend. Connor, a 2015 first-round pick of the organization, has been one of the most underrated superstars in the NHL since debuting after a lone season in the NCAA with the University of Michigan. In eight full seasons, he’s eclipsed 30 goals seven times, including a career-best 47 goals in 2021-2022 and 97 points recorded this past campaign.