Two more of the restricted free agents were taken care of ahead of the opening week in the NHL regular season, including the Winnipeg Jets locking in forward Kyle Connor. The Jets gave Connor a seven-year contract that is worth $50 million. That will pay him an average of $7.14 million per season, which is a major upgrade from the $925,00 cap hit he had in his previous deal. The 22-year-old played in all 82 regular season games a year ago, finishing with 34 goals and 32 assists. He has spent all three seasons of his NHL career with the Jets, 178 games to be exact, and has 67 goals and 61 assists in that time. The Jets will open up their 2019-2020 regular season schedule on Thursday night when they do battle with the New York Rangers.
Staying in the Central Division, the Colorado Avalanche took care of a restricted free agent of their own, as Mikko Rantanen received a six-year contract that is worth $55.5 million. The contract keeps him with the Avalanche through the 2024-2025 season, and will pay him an average of $9.25 million per season. That salary is flexible between each season, including him getting $12 million each of the first two years, and just $6 million the final season. He joins Nathan MacKinnon as the Avalanche stars that are locked in through at least the next four seasons. Rantanen is coming off a career year that saw him post 31 goals and 56 assists, which are both career highs. These two restricted free agent deals leave Jesse Pulujujarvi of the Edmonton Oilers as the only restricted free agent still unsigned.
Staying in the Central Division, the Colorado Avalanche took care of a restricted free agent of their own, as Mikko Rantanen received a six-year contract that is worth $55.5 million. The contract keeps him with the Avalanche through the 2024-2025 season, and will pay him an average of $9.25 million per season. That salary is flexible between each season, including him getting $12 million each of the first two years, and just $6 million the final season. He joins Nathan MacKinnon as the Avalanche stars that are locked in through at least the next four seasons. Rantanen is coming off a career year that saw him post 31 goals and 56 assists, which are both career highs. These two restricted free agent deals leave Jesse Pulujujarvi of the Edmonton Oilers as the only restricted free agent still unsigned.
