There were rumblings about other NHL teams reaching out to Kyle Connor’s camp but in the end the Jets eventually got their RFA signed to a new seven-year contract as first reported by TSN’s Pierre LeBrun.
Darren Dreger added:
”7 year. 50M. For Connor. So, $7.14 mil and change.”
The Jets have now confirmed the deal is done. Here are the terms:
2019-20: $7.5 million
2020-21: $8 million
2021-22: $7.5 million
2022-23: $5 million
2023-24: $7.5 million
2024-25: $7.5 million
2025-26: $7 million
The Michigan born winger was drafted by the Jets in the 1st round (17th overall) back at the 2015 NHL Draft in Florida. Connor tore things up with the University of Michigan Wolverines on the CCM line posting 35 goals and 36 assists for 71 points in 38 games. In his first season as a pro he spent the first 20 games of his career in the NHL with the Jets before being sent down to complete the 2016-17 campaign with the Moose in the American Hockey League. He didn’t get off to the best start but eventually the talented winger acclimatized to the AHL game and finished with 25 goals in 52 games (think it was something like 18-20 goals in his last 25 games).
In 178 games in the NHL with the Jets he has 67 goals and 61 assists including back-to-back 30+ goal seasons.