Deal to make Connor latest ‘Jet for life’ priority on roster docket

Opinion

Provided he’s willing to put pen to paper — and there’s been no reason to suggest that’s not going to be the case — Kyle Connor is set to sign the richest contract in Winnipeg Jets’ history.

Although there’s still more than 10 months to go before the smooth-skating left-winger is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent, getting a deal that makes Connor the latest “Jet for life” is the top priority for Kevin Cheveldayoff and company.

It’s already been an eventful summer for the Jets general manager, with the roster in flux a bit more than in previous seasons.

But the majority of the core group is under contract for multiple seasons and getting Connor and captain Adam Lowry locked up on new deals would wrap up a pretty productive summer as it pertains to personnel.

There’s a vocal segment of the fan base that’s already shifted into “what’s taking so long” mode when discussions about Connor’s future are taking place — partly due to the off-season departure of fan favourite Nikolaj Ehlers to the Carolina Hurricanes in free agency.

As is normally the case in negotiations such as this one, squeezing out information from either the Jets or the players’ camp has been tough to come by.

That Connor doesn’t already have a deal in place doesn’t mean he’s assured of following Ehlers out of town, nor does it mean his extension is imminent.

This next deal for Connor is a bit of a delicate dance, even if it’s one both sides are interested in completing.

When it comes to moving the goal posts for organizations and its franchise players, there are a multitude of factors to consider when finalizing a contract of this magnitude.

What we know for sure is that Connor is going to eclipse the matching seven-year, US$59 million deals that foundational pillars Connor Hellebuyck and Mark Scheifele signed on Thanksgiving weekend in 2023.

With a rising salary cap and Connor’s remarkably consistent levels of production, the stage is set for the Michigan product to become the first Jets player with an average annual value north of US$10 million.

Just how much higher than that remains to be seen, though something that reaches — or approaches — $US12 million isn’t out of the question when you look at a few recent examples.

The most highly coveted winger scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this summer was Mitch Marner and he got a sign-and-trade deal between the Vegas Golden Knights and Toronto Maple Leafs that was for eight years and is worth US$96 million.

This is not an apples to apples comparison, but it’s one of the examples that will be under consideration — given the age and aptitude of the players in question.

Both elite wingers are 28 years old, with Connor turning 29 in December and Marner doing the same in early May.

Marner has an additional half season of experience (657 regular-season games played to 613) and holds an edge in assists (520 to 298) and points (741 to 582), though Connor leads in goals (284 to 221).

Marner is an exceptional passer that can score, while Connor is a sensational sniper that has an underrated ability to distribute the puck.

Looking for other comparables, how about David Pastrnak, who inked an eight-year, US$90 million deal (with an AAV of US$11.25 million) to remain with the Boston Bruins on March 2 of 2023 — just a few months before he could have become a UFA for the first time in his career.

Pastrnak is the poster child for getting a deal done late into the process and it not becoming a distraction for either the player or the team.

Also 29 (until May 25), Pastrnak has scored north of 30 goals on eight separate occasions, eclipsing 40 five times and delivering a career-best of 61 during the 2022-23 campaign (when he signed his current contract).

Pastrnak also has a penchant for coming up big in monumental moments, with 64 game-winning goals in 756 games.

That’s another thing the two players have in common, since Connor already has 60 game-winning goals in his nine seasons to go along with five in the playoffs — including two overtime winners.

The last time a winger this productive actually reached unrestricted free agency was Artemi Panarin, who left the Columbus Blue Jackets for the New York Rangers on July 1 of 2019 and is about to finish off his seven-year contract that was worth US$81.5 million and carried an AAV of US$11.64 million.

That ended up being a wise investment for the Rangers, who rapidly sped up the rebuilding process by bringing in a perennial all-star who plays with panache.

So, where does that leave Connor and the Jets?

Well, Connor is a cornerstone player who has put himself in position to earn a significant raise from the US$7.142 million AAV he will carry this season in the final year of the long-term contract he signed in fall of 2019.

Connor is coming off the best season of his career, leading the Jets with 41 goals, 56 assists and 97 points (all of which were the highest totals he’s posted to date) and he followed that up by adding five goals and 17 points in 13 playoff games.

Plus, there’s no signs of Connor slowing down, as he’s taken great pride in evolving as a player and working to find new ways to score.

Certainly, the player has a fair share of leverage here, recognizing how valuable he’s been to contributing to team success for a club that has championship aspirations. That’s why extending him is essential to extending the window of contention.

The Jets don’t have another winger in the system that is as dynamic as Connor, who was chosen 17th overall in the 2015 NHL draft.

Trying to replace a player of Connor’s calibre — especially a club-grown talent — isn’t easy to do, which is why the two sides will continue to chip away at a deal that satisfies both parties.

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @WiebesWorld