Reporting out of Winnipeg early in the offseason indicated the Jets would make an extension for top winger Kyle Connor their No. 1 priority as he hurtles toward unrestricted free agency in 2026. Talks could have started at any point before he became eligible to sign a new deal on July 1.
Yet six weeks into his eligibility period to sign an extension, there hasn’t been much reporting on the status of talks. That could change quickly as parties reconvene for training camp next month, but as of now, there hasn’t been anything beyond preliminary negotiations, independent insider Frank Seravalli told Bleacher Report earlier in the week.
The lack of negotiation stems from a lack of urgency from Connor’s camp as they “evaluate their options,” Seravalli said. It’s a sensible approach from the 28-year-old as he enters both the most pivotal in-season and offseason of his career for his earning potential.
In 613 games for the club, the 6’1″ lefty has 284 goals and 582 points. That puts him third and fourth in Jets/Thrashers franchise history, respectively, and 12th in the league in goals since he debuted in the 2016-17 season. That’s more than names like Brad Marchand, Artemi Panarin, and Steven Stamkos – all of whom have legitimate Hall-of-Fame cases – over the same period.
He’s been especially impactful coming out of the pandemic as he enters his prime. He scored 41 goals last season with a career-high 97 points to lead Winnipeg in scoring, averaging 20:24 of ice time per game and earning MVP votes for the first time. He’s now scored at or over that 41-goal pace in three of the last four seasons, notching 34 tallies in 65 games in 2023-24 for a 43-goal pace.
Needless to say, he’s a must-retain for a Jets team that relies heavily on its first line for offense, particularly after losing Nikolaj Ehlers to the Hurricanes in free agency this summer. Their depth scoring, headlined by a still-developing Cole Perfetti and a giant question mark in Jonathan Toews as he returns to the NHL, already leaves something to be desired entering the season as they look to remain atop the Central Division.
Keeping him in Winnipeg is especially important for a club that understandably struggles to position itself as a prime destination for external UFAs. While there’s still a potentially stacked 2026 class for the Jets to try to grab replacements from, landing any of the few names that actually reach the market isn’t a proven strategy…
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