The Winnipeg Jets sent rookie winger Kyle Connor to the Manitoba Moose, the Jets American Hockey League affiliate. The 20-year old was the Winnipeg Jets 17th overall pick in the 2015 Entry Draft, and was a runner-up for the Hobey Baker award when he played for the University of Michigan last season. He put up almost unbelievable scoring numbers, the best by far of any player in college, with 35 goals, and 36 assists for 71 points in just 38 games.
So far this season, Kyle has played in just 19 games for the Winnipeg Jets, and has just one goal, and three assists in that time. Connor was a minus-8 playing most of his time on the Jets third or fourth line. He played one game with the Moose last night, and got an assist.
It`s a bit of a surprise that the Winnipeg Jets took so long to send down Connor, as he has been in the Jets lineup for only two of their last nine games. His status was a bit unclear, as he was a healthy scratch for half the time, but was also injured for some time. Two-weeks ago Connor played on three minutes in a game against the Predators, prompting speculation that perhaps he had once again sustained an injury, or that his chances sticking with the Jets were quickly slowing.
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Connor`s biggest problem was that he couldn`t crack the Jets top six forwards, and sometimes even the top nine. Like Nic Petan last season, Connor doesn`t compliment an NHL bottom six like Brandon Tanev, or Adam Lowry do. His skating, especially without the puck wasn`t where he needed to be, and his lack of scoring wasn`t enough to make up for it. Considering he was playing with shutdown players like Adam Lowry, Chris Thorburn, and Shawn Matthias at times, he didn`t get a lot of support to his creativity. The Jets had no room on their powerplay for him, and when in the lineup, a good penalty killer usually had to sit the night off.
Now Connor knows exactly what the NHL is like, exactly how big of a transition it is from college hockey, and what he can work on with the Manitoba Moose before coming back to the Jets. He may not see anymore NHL action this season, but I can guarantee he will come prepared for next season.