As training camp opens ahead of the 2025-26 NHL season, the Winnipeg Jets are looking to get some business done with their leading scorer from last year.

Winger Kyle Connor is set to enter the last season of a seven-year, $50 million deal signed in 2019, but general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff shared that extension talks are still ongoing with under a month remaining before the start of the regular season.

“We’ve had great dialogue with [Connor’s] representatives, and we continue to have that,” Cheveldayoff said of his star winger. “He’s obviously a big part.”

“Every conversation, you’re hopeful that this is the one that closes it,” he added. “But it’s not… I don’t know that it’s a timeframe sort of thing. You just keep on working at it.”

Cheveldayoff says sure, he’d ideally have Connor’s contract done “yesterday” but will keep working at it.

“Every conversation, you’re hopeful that this is the one that closes it. But it’s not… I don’t know that it’s a timeframe sort of thing. You just keep on working at it.”

— Murat Ates (@WPGMurat) September 18, 2025

Connor, 28, recorded a career-high 97 points with the Jets last year, his ninth season in Winnipeg.

TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger said Tuesday he believes the Jets will be able to keep Connor, though at a significantly higher cap hit than his current $7.14 million.

“I don’t think that there’s any doubt that the Jets have put a priority on extending Connor for as long as they can,” Dreger explained on Insider Trading. “That’s just the reality of the situation and I don’t doubt for a second that they will extend Connor because he’s been such a key piece of this organization’s past, present, and future.

“There’s no timeline on this but, again, lines of communication are completely open as Connor goes into the final year of an almost $50 million deal. Based on years of production, it’s safe to assume that Connor has earned a decent raise.”

The Clinton, Mich. native eclipsed the 40-goal mark for the second time in his professional career last year, while adding 56 assists en route to helping the Jets to their first Presidents’ Trophy in franchise history.

Since being drafted by the team with the 17th overall pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Connor has scored 284 goals and 582 points in 613 career games.