Winnipeg Jets lock up Kyle Connor to an 8-year contract extension

Jets star winger Kyle Connor was set to enter the final year of his contract with Winnipeg but he and the team avoided that by signing this deal. Both sides were looking to get this done to avoid it becoming a distraction and that’s what they accomplished by announcing it on the second official day of the season and before Winnipeg was set to play their season opener on Thursday.

The Michigan product will be remaining in the Manitoba capital for another eight years (technically it will be nine total as the deal starts next season) as both Elliotte Friedman and Darren Dreger are reporting with an AAV of 12 million. Dreger added it is 55 million in salary and 41 million in bonuses. The Jets have also confirmed the deal.

There were lots of twists and turns around the NHL that could have potentially had a big impact on this signing. Over in Minnesota winger Kirill Kaprizov reportedly turned down an eight-year, 16 million dollar deal for one with that same term but paid him 17 million per season. While over in Edmonton, the best player in the NHL by a country mile Connor McDavid took a 12.5 million dollar deal for two seasons in order to keep his team competitive for additions to help them achieve a Stanley Cup.

The Jets 2015 1st rounder hit a number of milestones last season playing in his 600th NHL game, getting his 500th NHL point as well as finishing with his highest points total (97) of his career.

He is now the highest paid Jets player and the longest signed with a contract going until the 2033–34 season. Most of the other long-term contracts for the Jets end in the 2029-30 season.