May 21, 2025 | 12:31pm ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

CONNOR EXTENSION ATOP JETS PRIORITY LIST

Kyle Connor, forward

Despite a successful regular-season, the Winnipeg Jets are no longer competing for this season’s Stanley Cup after a second-round exit, and GM Kevin Cheveldayoff is beginning to put together his checklist as he prepares for next season.

With six pending unrestricted free agents and four pending restricted free agents currently on the roster, the Jets may see some turnover going into the 2025-26 campaign.

Leading the way are forwards Nikolaj Ehlers, Brandon Tanev and Mason Appleton, all of whom are set to become UFAs July 1, while winger Gabe Vilardi sits atop Winnipeg’s RFA list and is due for a hefty raise on his next contract.

The Jets have just over $25.68 million in salary cap space going into next season and that should give them plenty of room to retain key players and add to the roster.

Appleton and Tanev expressed interest in staying in Winnipeg and contract talks are expected to begin in the coming weeks.

It has been long speculated that Ehlers is destined for free agency, though, and if he leaves it will create a hole in Winnipeg’s roster that will need to be filled.

While Cheveldayoff and his staff focus on their roster decisions, the main priority for the club this summer may be getting sniper Kyle Connor signed to a long-term extension.

Connor, 28, is going to enter the final year of a seven-year, $50 million contract. He is eligible to sign an extension with the Jets starting July 1, and it’s believed Cheveldayoff will make it a priority to get him locked up to a new deal at some point this off-season.

The Michigan native registered 41 goals and a career-high 56 assists for a career-high 97 points this season with the Jets. It is the second time he has eclipsed the 40-goal mark and the second time he has surpassed 90 points in a season.

His next contract could come in around or above a $10 million average annual value on a long-term contract, making him the highest paid player on the Jets starting the 2026-27 season.