Winnipeg Jets First Round Profile: Kyle Connor

Not too many people expected Kyle Connor to still be on the board for the Winnipeg Jets at pick 17 of the 2015 NHL draft but much as it did the year before with Nik Ehlers, things fell into place.

Draftniks such as Craig Button had Connor as high as 6th on their draft boards heading into the draft. Connor’s fall has less to do with him and more to do with teams picking in the teens going after guys they were high on (Boston!), allowing Winnipeg to swoop in and grab the best player available on their board. Kevin Cheveldayoff must have been grinning like mad when he realized Connor fell to the Winnipeg Jets.

The first thing scouts talk about with Connor is his speed, which is noted as top-end in almost every scouting report on file. Not only does he have the speed, but his agility, stick-handling, and recognition is evident in the video below.

It’s not hard to see why Connor led the United States Hockey League in scoring last year with the Youngstown Phantoms with 34 goals and 80 points in 56 games. While Connor’s offensive abilities were on display with Youngstown, he also continued to develop his two-way game with the Phantoms. That’s an area he will likely continue to grow that at the University of Michigan.

Yes, yet another Jets first rounder is headed to Michigan, although I wouldn’t expect Connor to be a one-and-done player. The 6-foot-1 centre does need to add some size to his game but at this point, he is certainly projecting to be solid NHL player should his development continue. While it is early and we’re still a few years from seeing Connor in the show, it looks like Cheveldayoff had another successful draft with his top pick headlining what would appear to be an impressive haul.