The Winnipeg Jets have made left winger Kyle Connor of Shelby Township, Michigan their highest paid player in franchise history according to Sam Thompson and Russ Hobson of Global News Winnipeg on Wednesday. Connor signed an eight-year contract extension worth $96 million starting in the 2026-27 National Hockey League regular season. This means Connor will be making an average of $12 million per season. In 2025-26, Connor will be making $7.1 million.
Who had the previous richest contract?
The previous richest contracts belonged to Jets centre Mark Scheifele of Kitchener, Ontario and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck of Commerce Township, Michigan. On October 9, 2023, Hellebuyck and Scheifele both signed a seven-year contract worth $59.5 million, which is $8.5 million per year.
Connor’s 2024-25 statistics
This past season, Connor had 41 goals and 56 assists for 97 points in 82 games. He was a +17 with 25 penalty minutes, 28 power-play points, two shorthanded points, eight game-winning goals, 267 shots on goal, one faceoff win, 46 blocked shots, 21 hits, 33 takeaways and 80 giveaways. Connor was also part of a Jets’s team that won the Presidents’ Trophy.
Rumored to be a Red Wing
On September 18, we discussed Connor’s contract situation in Winnipeg, and the fact he could end up in Detroit. The rational was he was from the state of Michigan. However, Connor made it clear he wanted to stay in Winnipeg. He stated, “I couldn’t see myself anywhere else.”
X reaction
Kyle Connor, signed to an 8x$12M extension by WPG, is a star scoring winger with an elite shot, great speed, and slick hands. Very dangerous with the puck in transition but also one of the best in the league at getting lost in coverage and getting open at the back door. pic.twitter.com/0R426IkBbK
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) October 8, 2025
This is an interesting X discussing just how dangerous Connor is while on the ice from an analytics perspective. Creating opportunities definitely appear to be his strength.
Kyle Connor on the role his family played in choosing eight years:
“You’ve got to start thinking of other people too in this scenario. I think Winnipeg is a great place to raise a family.”
Connor and his wife, Ally, welcomed a baby into the world in March.
— Murat Ates (@WPGMurat) October 8, 2025
Here we learn about Connor a little more as a person and his genuine interest in staying in the Manitoba capital. It appears the cold, frigid winters do not bother Connor as much.
“Winnipeg, smallest market in the league, a Canadian City, has done a magnificent job of retaining their stars..”@JShannonhl reacted to Kyle Connor’s contract extension with the Jets announced this morning.
Full interview..https://t.co/FGkDH2gD1A pic.twitter.com/S1BNa6UfZi
— Donnie & Dhali (@DonnieandDhali) October 8, 2025
One star who did leave Winnipeg in the offseason was Nikolaj Ehlers. He signed a six-year deal worth $51 million with the Carolina Hurricanes.
