Great News For Winnipeg Jets Around Kyle Connor

While Kyle Connor is amongst that impressive list of big names who could become unrestricted free agents after the 2025-26 season, it doesn't sound like Winnipeg Jets fans will have to sweat things out quite as badly as those of the Edmonton Oilers on pending UFA Connor McDavid, and the Minnesota Wild fans, who are very nervous about the future of Kirill Kaprizov.

According to TSN insider Darren Dreger (h/t Pierre LeBrun in The Athletic), there is definite "mutual interest" in getting a deal done to keep Connor in Winnipeg for the long haul.

There’s progress in negotiations and mutual interest to get something done between Kyle Connor and the Winnipeg Jets. That’s no guarantee it gets done before the regular season. There’s no firm timeline to get a deal done, Dreger noted, but both sides are hoping to keep at it.

Connor is in the final season of his seven-year, $50 million deal ($7.142 million AAV). The Michigan-born forward has been with the Jets for his entire career going into his 10th season this year.

LeBrun offers fair reasoning why the American star has no problems staying in Manitoba:

"It might surprise some people outside of Winnipeg that an American pending UFA star player would want to stay on with the Jets, but I’ll point out Connor loves the outdoor life the market affords. He’s an avid hunter, like many players on the team."

The insider points to goaltender Connor Hellebuyck as one of those fellow "avid outdoorsmen."

Kyle Connor's 'mindset' is to stay in Winnipeg long-term

And as LeBrun says, "nothing is done until it’s done, but the mere fact there’s mutual interest in getting an extension done answers an important question about Connor’s mindset."

AFP Analytics has Kyle Connor projected for an eight-year x $12 million AAV on his next contract. That would put him in another stratosphere from his first-line center Mark Schiefele, who's at $8.5 million for another six seasons.

Connor finished last season with a career-high 97 points and 56 assists, with his second 40-goal season (41). In 613 games with the Jets, he has 284 goals and 582 points.