While the Jets are conducting their end of season interviews the Jets 2015 1st round pick tweeted out this info:
Excited to sign my first NHL contract. Looking forward to the next chapter of my hockey career #WinnipegJets pic.twitter.com/5IzEnI5mUw
— Kyle Connor (@KyleConnor18) April 11, 2016
So it looks like #ConnorWatch is officially over. The expectation is the Jets 2015 1st round pick will chat with us tomorrow at some point so be sure to stay tuned for that.
Update: Kyle Connor was on Hustler and Lawless today to talk about signing his deal and playing at Michigan:
The Michigan Wolverines have also put out a release:
“Playing at Michigan was the most fun year of hockey in my life, and I think that I really benefited from all of the coaching here,” Connor said.
Read the full release here.
Jets Release:
The Winnipeg Jets announced they have agreed to terms with 2015 first-round pick Kyle Connor on a three-year, two-way NHL Entry-Level Contract beginning in 2016-17 worth an average annual value of $1.775 million.
Connor, 19, just completed his freshman season at the University of Michigan where he amassed an NCAA-leading 71 points (35G, 36A) in 38 games. Connor finished the season on a 27-game point streak leading the Wolverines to a Big Ten Championship. The native of Shelby Township, Mich., earned accolades all season long including being named: Big Ten Player of the Year, Big Ten Freshman of the Year, All-Big Ten First Team, Big Ten All-Rookie Team and was a finallist for the Hobey Baker Award.
The Jets selected Connor 17th overall at the 2015 NHL Draft in Sunrise, Fla. after playing for the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms. Connor led the USHL in scoring in 2014-15 and was named the USHL Top Forward and Player of the Year. Internationally, Connor helped Team USA to a gold medal at both the 2013 World Junior A Challenge and at the 2014 IIHF World U18 Championship in Finland.
Connor’s freshman season is statistically one of the best among first-year NCAA players as he equaled the 71 points that Jack Eichel amassed for Boston University in 2014-15. Only Paul Kariya totaled more points as a freshman, scoring 100 points for Maine in 1992-93.
