It wasn’t that long ago when the Winnipeg Jets dropped one of the biggest surprises of the season before the puck even hit the ice.
On October 9, 2023, in the span of a few hours, the Jets announced matching seven-year contracts for cornerstone center Mark Scheifele and franchise goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. It was a two-for-one shockwave that sent a message: this team wasn’t rebuilding, it was doubling down.
Fast forward two years, and the hockey world might be watching a sequel.
Jets insider Kelly Moore, sports director at Global News Radio 680 CJOB — the flagship station for Jets coverage — says Jets fans “should be optimistic” that Winnipeg will roll out another set of deals just before the 2025-26 season begins. This time, the names are Kyle Connor and Adam Lowry, two players who don’t just fill roles, but embody the identity of this team.
Jets Fans Told to ‘Be Optimistic’ About Extensions for Kyle Connor & Adam Lowry
When you talk Jets hockey, Connor’s name is usually near the top. A natural finisher with elite skating and a lethal release, the 28-year-old has been a model of consistency.
Since breaking into the NHL, he’s piled up goals at a clip that puts him among the league’s most reliable producers. Winnipeg simply doesn’t have another player who can replicate his offensive package — speed, precision, and the ability to stretch defenses thin.
National chatter has been swirling all summer about Connor being a trade or free agency prize for bigger-market teams. The Athletic, Daily Faceoff, and others have all floated possible landing spots.
But if you listen closely in Winnipeg, the tone is different. Connor has never sounded like a player looking for the exit, and Moore’s forecast points to the organization locking him in rather than letting him become the latest “what if” story. The Jets can’t sell themselves as contenders without his firepower on the wing.
If Connor is the Jets’ offensive heart, Lowry is the soul.
The 32-year-old captain is still working his way back from offseason hip surgery, but make no mistake — his fingerprints are all over this roster. Big, physical, and fearless in the dirty areas, Lowry plays the kind of two-way game coaches love and teammates rally around. He’s not just a locker room presence; he’s the heartbeat of their forward group.
The Jets haven’t announced where extension talks stand, and Lowry himself recently said he doesn’t have an update. But Moore’s prediction underscores what most in Winnipeg already assume: Lowry isn’t going anywhere. He’s the captain, the culture-setter, and the kind of player who anchors a franchise through turbulence. Locking him up would give the Jets stability down the middle for years to come.
Deals for Kyle Connor & Adam Lowry Would Match Scheifele-Hellebuyck Double Signing in 2023
For Winnipeg fans, the idea of losing either Connor or Lowry would cut deep. After years of speculation about stars walking away from Manitoba, the organization has worked hard to shed that reputation. The Scheifele-Hellebuyck double signing in 2023 was a turning point, a declaration that stars could — and would — commit long term.
Doing it again with Connor and Lowry would reinforce that message and silence the noise. Connor keeps them dangerous on the scoreboard; Lowry keeps them grounded when games get heavy. Together, they represent the balance of skill and grit that Winnipeg wants to be known for.
The season is just two weeks away, and if Moore’s prediction rings true, Jets fans might once again wake up to a familiar headline: two of their most important players committing on the same day. Winnipeg has pulled this off before, and the blueprint is there.
Another double deal? In this town, it suddenly doesn’t feel far-fetched at all.