Kyle Connor’s future is up in the air, and some big-money moves could be coming next summer when his $50 million contract with Winnipeg expires.
The 28-year-old star winger is about to hit free agency at the perfect time. He’s in his prime, scoring like crazy, and several teams are ready to open their checkbooks.
Let’s look at who might try to land him.
The Detroit Red Wings are already generating buzz, and it makes perfect sense. Connor grew up in Shelby Township, Michigan, and what player doesn’t dream about a hometown heroics story?
Detroit’s been stuck watching the playoffs from home for nine long years. They’ve got some great young talent in Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond, and Alex DeBrincat, but they’re missing that extra punch to get them over the hump.
Here’s the kicker: The Wings will have more than $44 million in cap space next summer. That’s enough to make Connor a offer he might not be able to refuse.
Then there’s the Washington Capitals. They just missed out on Nikolaj Ehlers this summer, and you can bet they’re still hungry for a top-tier winger.
Imagine Connor, a seven-time 30-goal scorer, joining last year’s Eastern Conference top seed. That’s the kind of move that keeps opposing coaches up at night.
The Caps will have $36.5 million to play with after next season. That’s plenty of firepower for contract talks.
But don’t sleep on the Columbus Blue Jackets. They’ve got one of the most promising young cores in hockey, and they’re ready to make some noise.
They nearly landed Noah Dobson before the 2025 draft, showing they’re serious about adding star power. What they’re really missing is an elite forward – exactly what Connor brings to the table.
And with $46 million in projected cap space, Columbus could make this interesting.
The race for Connor’s services is shaping up to be one of next summer’s biggest stories. For a player who’s been lighting up scoreboards in Winnipeg, the chance to write a new chapter might be too tempting to pass up.
