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Winnipeg Jets F Kyle Connor Could get cut for all the Wrong Reasons

By Anthony Jacob

Oct 3, 2016; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Winnipeg Jets forward Kyle Connor (41) celebrates after scoring his third goal of the preseason during the third period against the Ottawa Senators at MTS Centre. Winnipeg wins 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 3, 2016; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Winnipeg Jets forward Kyle Connor (41) celebrates after scoring his third goal of the preseason during the third period against the Ottawa Senators at MTS Centre. Winnipeg wins 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kyle Connor decided this summer that he was done with College Hockey. This told the Winnipeg Jets he is ready to play for them, and all his time and effort will be put into making the team. Kyle showed during the preseason why he dominated college, and beat the Hobey Baker award winner by 20 points! How could the Jets let their prized prospect play in the AHL?

Connor, and Perreault celebrating one of their many preseason goals – Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports
Connor, and Perreault celebrating one of their many preseason goals – Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports /

Kyle Connor came into the preseason playing on inexperienced, yet skilled lines. His play landed him on a more experienced line. His shift-to-shift play hasn’t particularly stuck out though. Luckily, his stats have been polar opposite. He currently holds a three game scoring streak, all off of perfectly placed shots. That’s something that Connor wasn’t used to in Michigan, as he was more of a lateral, sneaky player, known for lots of scoring chances, and finishing too.

The problem for Kyle is his physical play, standing at 6′ 1″, and just 182 lbs, Connor has a big body he will eventually grow into. He got away with a smaller stature in college, but there’s no doubt a gigantic step up in quality of play when compared to the NHL. That means the Jets would much rather have a big, defensive minded forward on the fourth line than a scorer, and that could give Connor the boot, just like it did to Nic Petan, a player in a similar situation with the Winnipeg Jets last season, which was tough to see. That means his goal will be to crack at least the third line in Winnipeg.

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Coaches go with what they know and like. One player may be better than another one beside him, but the lesser may be chosen because of chemistry. If there’s anything that earns Kyle Connor a spot in the NHL, it will be how incredible he has played with Mathieu Perreault lately. The duo was the best two Jets on the ice in their game against the Senators. Marko Dano looked great beside those two, but perhaps the shifty Joel Armia could be a better fit. Perhaps Drew Stafford going down with an apparent upper-body injury could leave a void for Connor, if the Jets at first were looking to send him back down.

As training camp winds down for all NHL clubs, Kyle Connor will most likely lead a whole bunch of Jets hopefuls, perhaps including Andrew Copp, Marko Dano, Brandon Tanev, Chris Thorburn, and potentially Nic Petan again. The Jets needed more goal scoring, especially on the power play, and that’s what Connor brings to the table. Expect him to be on the Jets opening day roster.

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