Two big fish were landed on Saturday in the NHL.
In Winnipeg, Kyle Connor and the Jets signed a seven-year deal for the 22-year old forward.
Left Wing Kyle Connor (#81) of the Winnipeg Jets
The contract is worth $49.98 million and $7.12 million annually.
“Everybody wants to score goals and everybody wants points, but [Kyle] doesn’t short a backcheck,” Jets coach Paul Maurice said via The Athletic web site. “He doesn’t cheat on a play to get that point. So the defensemen like him too. He’s just darn effective. He’s going to be a real good player for a long time.”
This past season Connor posted career highs in goals with 34 as well as assists 32; so it goes without saying, the point total for the year was a high as well.
Connor added had five points on three goals in six playoff matches.
“We don’t ask Kyle to run guys over,” Maurice said via The Athletic web site. “We ask him to get the puck stopped on the forecheck. If you can get in there and create a loose puck, then whoever is playing with him gets an opportunity to be a second quicker and we get possession. Well, at that speed and with that stick, that happens. It just happens a lot.”
In Denver, the Avalanche and Mikko Rantanen came to terms on a six-year deal.
Terms were not released.
Right Wing Mikko Rantanen (#96) of the Colorado Avalanche
“To get a player of Mikko’s caliber back just before the start of the regular season is going to be a big, big boost to our team,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “It will slot everyone on our roster exactly where they’re supposed to be too. He’s an exceptional talent and we’re looking forward to getting him back on the ice.”
Rantanen posted career highs, scoring 31 goals and kicking in 56 assists for 87 points.
He also added six goals and eight assists through 12 post season games.
“We’ll brush him up with a couple of meetings if he gets in on time,” Bednar said. “I know he’s been skating and working hard. He always comes to camp in really good shape and I’m sure that will be no different this year. Our guys are excited to have him back and he’s a huge piece to our team.”
Rantanen was a huge piece of the Avs’ success last season in making the playoffs.
“We’re really excited to get it over with,” Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog said. “Obviously we wish it could have been done a little bit sooner. But we’re excited that we’re hopefully going to have him for the first game (of the regular season). He’s going to be paying for a lot of dinner, so hopefully his credit card is ready to go.”
File photos by Lewis Bleiman
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