Kyle Connor Signs Eight Year Extension in Winnipeg

The Winnipeg Jets announced today that they’ve agreed to terms on an eight year contract extension with forward Kyle Connor. The contract is set to begin at the start of the 2026-27 season and carries a $12 million cap hit each season.

Connor’s $96 million total contract is the richest in franchise history by almost $37 million. It speaks volumes about the growth of the Jets’ franchise as they were purchased for $110 million back when the team was in Atlanta.

Jets fans can certainly take a deep sigh of relief that there’s no repeat situation similar to last offseason when the team lost Nikolaj Ehlers to the Carolina Hurricanes in free agency.

This contract includes a full no movement clause and multiple seasons of signing bonuses, a step in the right direction as the franchise typically never gives out signing bonuses or full no movement clauses.

Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reported that the Winnipeg Jets had to have an organization philosophy change to how they approach contracts, signing bonuses, and movement clauses. He added that Kyle Connor would’ve been the hottest commodity on the 2026 free agency list and most likely would’ve been picked up elsewhere.

Finally, with the change came the extension. The reports last night broke from all of the big insiders and notably Friedman’s initial report as he was leaving Winnipeg.

Connor will be 37 at the expiration of the contract in the 2033-34 season. The 2017 17th overall draft selection has been a star in Winnipeg since his arrival, posting 582 points (284G, 298A) in 613 games played.

The 28-year-old forward is coming off a career high 97-point (41G, 56A) season for the Winnipeg Jets. He also added 17 points (5G, 12A) in 13 postseason games last year.

The trend before the season kicks off is that this second Connor this week to sign in a Canadian market.

The Jets now have their top line locked up for the foreseeable future as Mark Scheifele signed long term a couple years ago, Gabriel Vilardi signed long term this summer, and Kyle Connor signed long term today.