Kyle Connor is entering the final season of his contract with the Winnipeg Jets.
In a hugely talented free agent class, that has flown a bit under the radar. But the future of the Jets certainly depends on what happens with Connor next offseason.
NHL insider Frank Seravelli has suggested that maybe Connor will leave Winnipeg to play in the Eastern Conference, specifically, for the Detroit Red Wings.
“There’s not any reason to panic, but a lot of people have been wondering, if Kyle Connor does decide to go to market next summer, would the Detroit Red Wings be a fit for Kyle Connor?” Seravelli said in a stream on Tuesday. “You could see the Michigan product going back. I could certainly see that. It would seem to make a ton of sense for a Detroit Red Wings team that could use additional scoring punch.”
Winnipeg will still have a big horse in this discussion, though.
“Don’t count out the Jets,” Seravelli said. “They’ve had a good thing going. Obviously a tough playoff exit, but Connor has to be part of the solution.”
Connor is originally from Shelby Township in Michigan and played for the Michigan Wolverines in college before the Jets made him the 17th overall pick in 2015.
He’s coming off a massive season that featured 41 goals and 56 assists for 97 points.
In 613 NHL games across nine seasons for the Jets, Connor has 582 points, broken down as 284 goals and 298 assists.
Connor will turn 29 in December, and the talented winger still seems like a crucial piece of the future in Winnipeg.
But ahead of what could be a riveting free agency in 2026, there’s lots of speculation and rumors to come. Connor to the Red Wings is one that at least makes some sense.
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