The Detroit Red Wings are set to open up the 2025-26 season with hopes of ending their playoff drought that has gone on for nine years and counting. The hope is that during their centennial season, they can avoid making that playoff-less streak extend to 10 seasons.
However, this season goes, all eyes will be on free agency next summer. Sure, the top names like Connor McDavid and Kirill Kaprizov are all off of the board, but there are still plenty of big names. One of them is Kyle Connor, the Winnipeg Jets star winger. He was an enticing option for Red Wings fans, because he is from Michigan and played college hockey for the Michigan Wolverines. However, that dream appears to be over.
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on Tuesday night that the Jets and Connor were making progress on a long-term contract extension, just before their regular season opener against the Dallas Stars. Friedman said that he expects the deal to pay Connor around $12 million per year.
Expecting AAV will be in the 12s
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 8, 2025
Big for team and player to get it done https://t.co/g2IuNLOU99
Red Wings fans' Kyle Connor dream over after latest contract update
It was always a long shot that the Jets would let Connor leave for free agency. But fans in search of a high-scoring forward hitting the open market held out hope that it would happen. The Red Wings faithful were hoping that the team would be able to secure a top free agent to help bring the team back to contention. But it looks as though Connor won't be an option, as cool as a homecoming would have been next summer.
Connor has been a great scorer for the Jets since making his debut in 2016. His first breakout season was in 2021-22, where he scored 47 goals and dished out 46 assists for a total of 93 points, earning him a spot in the All-Star Game the Lady Byng Trophy for best sportsmanship. Last season, Connor recorded a career-high 97 points (41 goals, 56 assists) in 82 games.
Overall, Connor has scored 284 goals and recorded 298 assists during his nine years in Winnipeg.
Connor would have been a great addition to any team that signed him out of free agency. The thing is, it's looking like Connor will be secured to a long-term contract before the Jets' home opener. Red Wings fans will now have to hope the team can secure another Michigan star in free agency in 2027 — Quinn Hughes. But that's still not a given to happen, either.