Categories: Sports

Jets sign star forward Kyle Connor to 8-year, $96 million extension

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.

Source link

David Miller

David Miller – Sports Editor Covers NFL, NBA, and U.S. sports with in-depth match analysis.

Recent Posts

Sources: Friendly Argentina team moved to Fort Lauderdale amid unrest in Chicago

A friendly match between Argentina and Puerto Rico, originally scheduled for next week in Chicago, has been moved to Fort…

2 minutes ago

James Webb Telescope discovers ‘remarkable’ evidence that a black hole passed through a galaxy, leaving a huge scar behind

Astronomers have observed a gigantic cosmic “trail” in a distant galaxy. The trail of gas and dust may have been…

3 minutes ago

How Palisades fire arrest raises tough questions for LA firefighters

Federal investigators have determined that the wildfire that destroyed much of Pacific Palisades on Jan. 7 was a so-called "remnant"…

4 minutes ago

The usual standard bearers of the AI ​​boom are pushing the S&P 500 to new heights

(These are market notes on today's stock from CNBC senior markets commentator Mike Santoli.) Another clockwork attempt to erase yesterday's…

5 minutes ago

1984 anti-Sikh riots: Supreme Court to hear Sajjan Kumar’s plea against punishment on September 24

The Supreme Court on Wednesday (August 20) postponed hearing on appeals filed by former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar and former…

9 minutes ago

Indifi Tech returns to profitability, AUM at ₹2,000 crore; no plans for IPO in short term, says managing director Alok Mittal

Fintech lending platform Indifi Tech has returned to profitability after reporting a temporary increase in losses last year, co-founder and…

10 minutes ago