Winnipeg Jets Chairman Delivers Bold Statement on Kyle Connor’s Future, Signaling a Major Move is Imminent

0 Sara Smith September 24, 2025

The chatter is already starting. Any time a star player like Kyle Connor enters the final year of his contract, the speculation machine kicks into high gear. Can the Winnipeg Jets, a team perennially navigating the challenges of a small market, afford to keep their elite sniper?

While the hockey world loves a good trade rumor, the message coming from the top of the Jets organization is crystal clear: don’t bet on Connor wearing another team’s jersey next season.

Chipman’s Confidence Speaks Volumes About the Winnipeg Jets’ Plans

When team chairman Mark Chipman speaks, you listen. His recent comments about Kyle Connor’s contract situation weren’t just standard corporate talk; they were a strong signal of intent. Chipman’s “instincts” telling him a deal will “get done sooner rather than later” is as close to a guarantee as you’ll get from a man in his position. He’s not the one at the negotiating table—that’s GM Kevin Cheveldayoff’s job—but he signs the checks and sets the organizational philosophy.

This isn’t a new situation for the Jets. We heard the same doubts two years ago when Connor Hellebuyck and Mark Scheifele were due for new contracts. Pundits questioned if Winnipeg could retain two cornerstones of the franchise. They did. Losing Nikolaj Ehlers this past summer certainly stung, but the Jets have a history of identifying and locking up their core leaders. Connor is unequivocally part of that core. He’s not just a goal-scorer; he’s a central piece of their offensive identity. In a league where players of his caliber are a rare commodity, letting him walk for nothing in free agency would be a massive step backward for the franchise. The Jets have the cap space and, more importantly, the organizational will to get this deal done.

The reality is, the potential free-agent market for elite wingers is thinning out. With names like Connor McDavid, Kirill Kaprizov, and Artemi Panarin likely to re-sign with their current teams, a player like Kyle Connor would command a massive payday on the open market. The Jets know this, and they won’t let it get to that point. Expect Cheveldayoff to be aggressive in the coming weeks. The message from Chipman isn’t just wishful thinking; it’s a strategic move to set expectations and show their star player he is valued. For Jets fans, it’s a reason to feel confident that number 81 will be lighting the lamp in Winnipeg for years to come.