Kyle Connor Lands Historic $96 Million Extension With Jets

Kyle Connor will remain a Winnipeg Jet for the foreseeable future.

The star forward has agreed to a brand new deal with the Jets worth $96 million across eight years. He’ll earn $12 million annually.

As noted, this is the biggest deal in franchise history. Connor is certainly deserving of every penny thanks to his consistency over the last few seasons. In 2024-25, the American led the Jets in points with 97 and assists with 56. He also added 41 goals, which ranked him seventh in the NHL. Connor set career-highs in numerous categories.

Connor earned All-Star first team honors and also suited up for the United States at the inaugural Four Nations Face Off. Since Winnipeg drafted him in 2015, he’s been a huge contributor every season.

He’s registered at least 50 points in all of his full NHL seasons, not including 2016-17 when he played just 20 games. Connor is one of the most versatile offensive players in the league and a pillar for Winnipeg.

The 28-year-old was set to become a free agent next summer. He’ll make $7.14 million in the final year of his current deal before a nearly $5 million raise in 2026-27. Last month, Jets chairman Mark Chipman made it clear in an interview with RG.org’s James Murphy that the team had no doubts Connor would pen to paper “sooner rather than later”:

“No, I think my sense, and I’m not involved in this directly, this is what Chevy’s [Jets General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff] done so well for us and his group, so I don’t envision ‘K.C.’ going anywhere,” Chipman said. “I think he’s part of that group that I’ve been talking about. He’s part of our core, and these guys are very, very close. I think it would be my expectation that we’ll get something done sooner rather than later. My instincts are telling me that this is likely going to get done.”

Connor and the Jets kick off their season on Thursday evening at home against the Dallas Stars.