Jets’ Connor had eye on NHL last fall

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This article was published 12/04/2016 (3464 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Kyle Connor is an NHL prospect with his eye firmly on the prize.

The 19-year-old left-winger decided Monday to turn pro and signed an entry-level contract with the Winnipeg Jets, who drafted him 17th overall last June.

On a conference call with reporters Tuesday, Connor said when he started his college-hockey career last fall at the University of Michigan, he had an idea it quite possibly could be a short one and that the NHL and pro hockey might not be far away.

“Coming into the season, I knew there was certainly a chance it could be a one-and-done,” Connor said. “You never know how the season will end up but as the season progressed, throughout the season I was focused on trying to help my team win and getting better and as the season was winding down and was over, I sat down with my family and coach and that’s where I ended up making the decision.”

Connor was coming into the Michigan program off of a first-team all-star season in the USHL, putting up 80 points in 56 games for the Youngstown Phantoms.

That led to his high draft ranking ahead of last June’s selections.

As a freshman with the Wolverines, the speedy Connor had a record-breaking season of 35 goals and 36 assists in 38 games. The 71 points matched the season Buffalo’s Jack Eichel, then with Boston University, had in 2014-15.

In the process, he helped Michigan win the Big Ten championship, was named the league’s and the country’s top rookie, was named to the conference all-star team and was its player of the year and was a finalist for college hockey’s Hobey Baker award.

As Connor’s season progressed and his best-in-the-nation points total kept climbing, more and more eyes were on him — something he’ll encounter again in the next phase of his career with the Jets.

“It was a little bit of a tough transition going into college hockey but once I got a couple of games under my belt, I definitely felt a lot more comfortable,” Connor said. “I think my linemates really helped me with that, J.T. Compher and Tyler Motte. They really helped that transition. Once I was more comfortable, I just turned to what I did well, using my speed and my skill, those took over.”

It took more than two weeks from the end of Michigan’s season — a loss to eventual national champion North Dakota in the final of the mid-west regional tournament in Cincinnati — for Connor to decide to sign the three-year entry-level deal with the Jets.

His deal is reported at an annual average value of US$1.775 million. That includes the maximum annual salary allowed entry-level players, US$925,000, and the maximum allowable individual performance bonuses, US$850,000. The Jets are also allowed to add a US$92,500 signing bonus per season.

The maximum minor-league salary for entry-level contracts, all of which are two-way deals, is US$70,000.

The contract reported for its cap hit has to include the full potential value, which is why Connor’s US$925,000 annual NHL salary turns into a US$1.775 cap hit.

The accounting might not be as big a challenge as Connor will face as he tries to move from the USHL to the NHL in less than two calendar years.

“For me personally, I’m just ready for this next step,” he said Tuesday. “Turning pro was a full family decision and I think I’m ready for this.

“That’s a goal — I’ll try to make the lineup and definitely have an impact on the Jets. I’ll try to help them get back to the playoffs and see that white-out at the MTS Centre.”

Connor said he had a little input from Jets centre Andrew Copp, the former Wolverines captain who left Michigan after his junior season, at this time last year.

The Jets have another Michigan alumnus, Jacob Trouba, who left after one season in 2013.

“I talked to Copp a little bit throughout the season,” Connor said. “I don’t know Trouba too much. Copp, he didn’t have too much but he told me, ‘Just (go with) whatever you’re comfortable with.’  He didn’t want to pressure anything. Ultimately it came down to being ready for this challenge.”

Connor, who will play at the upcoming world hockey championship for Team U.S.A. with Compher and Motte, has already had a short exposure to Winnipeg and playing in a Canadian NHL market.

He attended the Jets development camp shortly after he was drafted last June.

“I’ve had a little bit of advice about that,” Connor said. “Basically, especially in Winnipeg, it’s everything there. It’s their team and the fans are very passionate. They care about the team. It’s a lot of what I’ve been hearing.

“It was a good visit at camp. I really learned what it takes to be a pro and how to practise every single day. It was good to meet the coaching staff, all the equipment guys and the whole organization. Also from a fan perspective, it was pretty eye-opening. We were at the rink there and it was packed for every single practice and the games. It was something pretty cool.”

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca