Kristen Shilton
The Winnipeg Jets took care of business ahead of their first game of the regular season, signing forward Kyle Connor to an eight-year, $96 million extension on Wednesday.
This is the richest contract in Jets franchise history, won by one of their most consistent players. Drafted by Winnipeg 17th overall in 2015, Connor has scored 30 or more goals in seven of his eight full NHL seasons to date and has topped the 40-goal mark in two of his last four campaigns.
In 2024-25, he had a career-high 56 assists and 97 points in 82 games and ranks in the top 20 among all NHL skaters in goals (153) and points (331) since 2021.
Winnipeg finished atop the league standings last season with a 116-point effort that only took them to a second-round playoff loss to Dallas. Keeping Connor in the fold was essential for the Jets to maintain their position as a contending team in the Western Conference. Winnipeg’s core includes Hart and Vézina goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, center Mark Scheifele and defenseman Josh Morrissey.
Connor, 28, is now one of four Jets – including Scheifele, Gabriel Vilardi and Neal Pionk – locked in until 2030.
This could be the start of a big year for Connor. He represented Team USA in the 4 Nations showdown in February and was part of their Olympic orientation camp this summer before NHL players returned to compete in the 2026 Milan-Cortina Games.
Winnipeg will host its first game of the season Thursday at home against the Stars.
