Jets owner Mark Chipman recently spoke about Kyle Connor's future, and he believes the star forward won't be leaving Winnipeg anytime soon and will re-sign. <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/edmonton-oilers/insider-believes-connor-mcdavid-contract-talks-could-drag-on-for-months-if-not-resolved-soon' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>There's been a great deal of hype around the 2026 group of NHL free agents</a>. With Connor McDavid and Kirill Kaprizov leading the list of anticipated UFAs, it's simple to overlook other stars who could possibly hit the market. One name that must not be overlooked is Kyle Connor. The Jets' left winger is also one of the top goal-scorers in the league and would be an attractive free agent target for any team if he hits the open market on July 1, 2026. For now, that remains uncertain. Connor has yet to sign an extension, but Jets chairman and owner Mark Chipman recently met with RG Media and expressed confidence that <a href='https://sports.yahoo.com/article/jets-chairman-opens-contract-talks-154924299.html' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>an extension will be done, and perhaps sooner rather than later.</a> No, I think my sense, and I'm not involved in this directly, this is what Chevy's [Jets General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff] done so well for us and his group, so I don't envision 'K.C.' going anywhere. I think he's part of that group that I've been talking about. He's part of our core, and these guys are very, very close. I think it would be my expectation that we'll get something done sooner rather than later. My instincts are telling me that this is likely going to get done, Chipman said. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/TheRGMedia/status/1970492992449364058'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/prohockeyrumors/status/1970830248372736489'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> Connor, 28, is in the final year of the seven-year, $49.99 million contract he signed in 2019. The Jets have been successful recently at keeping their core locked up long-term under deals, and with Connor, they have both cap space and organizational willingness to continue it. <h3>The Jets Will Have Over $40 Million in Cap Space to Work With Next Season</h3> General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has over $42 million of cap space next offseason to work with, with nearly all of Winnipeg's most important players already signed, with only Cole Perfetti and captain Adam Lowry left. That buffer should put the Jets at no risk of losing Connor's presence if it is a close decision. Whereas the future of so many other high-priority outstanding UFAs is murky, Connor's seems more defined. Unless something horribly shocking occurs, it is far more likely that he stays in Winnipeg, disappointing all the other general managers who were hoping to snatch him up. In short, Connor won't receive as much press as McDavid or Kaprizov, but his worth and chances of remaining in place make him one of the top names to monitor in the coming months.