Adam Lowry Extension Is Now Jets' Priority No. 1

The Winnipeg Jets got a huge extension done this past week—the biggest one in team history—when they locked up Kyle Connor to a massive $96 million pact ($12M AAV).

Next up, the team has every intention of locking up their captain, Adam Lowry, for another several years. He is also playing on an expiring contract this season, as his five-year, $3.25 million AAV deal comes to an end.

Darren Dreger, on TSN's Insider Trading made it clear that Lowry is Next Man Up in Winnipeg.

Adam Lowry, appreciably, is now a top priority for the Jets organization. When you think of the strength of the Jets – past, present, and moving forward into the future – it's based on their experience and their nucleus. And Adam Lowry is a key element to that foundation. A strong leader on and off the ice.

Have talks actually begun between the two sides?

“They have," answered Dreger. "Not full-scale negotiations just yet... I would say preliminary talks between Adam Lowry’s agent, Craig Oster, and general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff."

Lowry's importance to Jets' foundation is clear; Extension talks begin

What is his value to the Jets? AFP Analytics, using a strict mathematical formula, projects the 32-year-old landing a two-year extension with a $3.9 million cap hit. But his importance to the franchise goes far beyond statistics, and we'd expect more term, if not more of an AAV.

Lowry has been a Jet for his entire 11-year career. The St. Louis native is beloved in the 'Peg, and was named captain two years ago.

He's a consistent double-digit goal producer in the middle-six, including a career-high 16 goals last season. But for the 6'5", 210-pound Lowry, it's his play on the defensive side of the puck as a physical, shutdown center who plays with size and grit that defines his importance to the team.

He's handed out 200 hits four times in his career, and averages 183 hits per season.

If the two sides can come to an agreement, he'll continue to make opponents who face the Jets wince for years to come when they see Lowry hop over the boards.

The veteran center has begun this season on injured reserve with a hip issue, but he's expected to be back in the lineup within a couple of weeks or so.