Kyle Connor signs massive contract extension with Jets

By @MichaelCaples –

Another Michigan native has signed a major contract with his NHL franchise.

Twenty days after his former Belle Tire teammate Zach Werenski signed a three-year deal with his Columbus Blue Jackets, Connor has finalized a seven-year extension with his Winnipeg Jets.

It’s quite the payday for Connor, a restricted free agent. The seven-year contract is for $7.14 million per season, and $50 million in full.

Connor, 22, has thrived in his first two years in Winnipeg, posting 31 goals and 57 points in 2017-18 and 34 goals and 66 points in 2018-19.

A native of Shelby Township, Connor grew up on a Belle Tire team featuring the likes of Werenski and Dylan Larkin before joining the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL. There, he was named both USHL player of the year and USA Hockey junior player of the year in his final season in Ohio; he then moved on to the University of Michigan.

Winnipeg selected him No. 17 overall in 2015 before his freshman and only season in Ann Arbor – Connor proved his NHL team right by being named Big Ten player of the year and a Hobey Baker finalist after recording 61 points in 34 games.