Kyle Connor is back baby!
First reported by Pierre LeBrun, The Winnipeg Jets and forward Kyle Connor have agreed to a seven year deal worth $50 million. The deal carries an AAV of $7.14 million a season which would make him the second highest cap hit among Jets forwards.
#NHLJets have agreed to terms with forward Kyle Connor on a seven-year contract with an average annual value of $7.14 million.
DETAILS >> https://t.co/bRmvz1dViN pic.twitter.com/Az4Xo58ciA
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) September 29, 2019
The yearly breakdown of salary as provided by the Jets also sees a top heavy second year of the deal while KC will have to save his pennies a little bit more in year for of the contract. The final two years of the deal also come with a ten team No Trade clause as reported by Craig Custance.
2019-20: $7.5 million
2020-21: $8 million
2021-22: $7.5 million
2022-23: $5 million
2023-24: $7.5 million
2024-25: $7.5 million
2025-26: $7 million
Kyle’s agent Rich Evans also revealed some slightly cheeky jersey number math when it came to the deal.
$7.143m x 7= 81
— Rich Evans (@Hockeyagent) September 29, 2019
The 22 year old forward, registered 34 goals and 32 assists for 66 points in 82 games with the Jets last season. Connor broke out in a big way with the Jets during the 2017-18 season. After a brief time spent in the AHL with the Manitoba Moose, he was brought up after a couple of injuries opened up a roster spot for the Jets. Very quickly he ended up on the Jets top line with Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler and his career took off from there, leading the NHL in rookie goal scoring.
| Scor | Scor | Scor | Goal | Goal | Goal | Goal | Assi | Assi | Assi | Shot | Shot | Shot | Ice | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Tm | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | PIM | EV | PP | SH | GW | EV | PP | SH | S | S% | TSA | ATOI | BLK | HIT | TK | GV |
| 2016-17 | WPG | 20 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -7 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 24 | 8.3 | 41 | 12:13 | 8 | 1 | 11 | 5 |
| 2017-18 | WPG | 76 | 31 | 26 | 57 | 8 | 16 | 24 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 22 | 4 | 0 | 192 | 16.1 | 288 | 16:54 | 26 | 18 | 39 | 34 |
| 2018-19 | WPG | 82 | 34 | 32 | 66 | -7 | 18 | 22 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 24 | 8 | 0 | 227 | 15.0 | 355 | 19:15 | 21 | 9 | 56 | 33 |
| Career | 3 yrs | 178 | 67 | 61 | 128 | -6 | 38 | 48 | 18 | 1 | 13 | 47 | 14 | 0 | 443 | 15.1 | 684 | 17:28 | 55 | 28 | 106 | 72 |
The signings of Connor this evening as well as Patrik Laine yesterday means that the Jets have no more free agents left to deal with and will start the season with their full complement of forwards. Our friends over at PuckPedia.com broke down the numbers for not only KC’s contract, but also what it means for the Jets going forward in terms of their Salary Cap situation both with and without defenseman Dustin Byfuglien who remains suspended by the club while he determines his hockey future.
The #GoJetsGo re-sign 22 y/o RFA LW Kyle Connor to 7 Year $7.143M Cap Hit deal per @DarrenDreger. Covers 2 UFA years.
-34G 66P in 82GP
-47.5% 5v5 GF
-46.9% Expected GF
-48.4% Corsi
-Scored 1.8 P/60Rep'd by Richard Evans @PWSEHockeyhttps://t.co/CvtQNHHRcr
— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) September 29, 2019
After signing RFA Kyle Connor for 7 yr $7.143M Cap Hit Deal, #GoJetsGo have $116K of Cap Space w/ 24 on Proj. Roster (incl. Byfuglien).
If Byfuglien not w/ team, Cap Hit comes off. If on team, Cap space would increase as 1 player would come off rosterhttps://t.co/Hz0WLQsh6a
— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) September 29, 2019
We’ll have more on the signing and the impact his return will have on the Jets in the days to come.
