[News] Jets sign Hobey Baker Award finalist Kyle Connor to a $1.775 AAV contract

[oldschoolcalgary]

though i still like the Hamilton trade, i didn't think a guy like Connor (or Barzal for that matter) would even be around when Calgary picked...

[Vinny01]

I agree the Flames biggest need going into last summer IMO was getting a young pick moving Dman which they were able to do trading for Hamilton. Considering Dougie got off to a rocky start but still finished with 12 goals and 43pts still grades that trade as an easy win A+ move for Calgary.

Having said that Connor would be an awesome prospect to have however we would still be lacking a young top Dman and likely would have paid Russell stupid money to retain him

[Jets4Life]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

Very happy with this signing. Connor will likely win the Hobey Baker; he's had an incredible season. Oozing offensive talent and skill. Something to look forward to next year for sure after a very forgettable 2015-16.

Connor was the best player in College hockey last year. The NCAA has been known to give preference to Ivy League schools, and to players that attend college multiple years. He won the NCAA Rookie of the Year though.

[ricardodw]

same sort of NCAA numbers as Eichel.

same USHL numbers as Eichel and better as 17 year old than a certain Johnny Gaudreau... really blew out Gaudreau's freshman season at the NCAA level.

How the heck was he not on the US WJC u-20 team?

top 6 on the jets: Ehlers-Scheifele-Wheeler Connor-Little-Perrault/Stafford

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Five-hole

Another fun poll for y'all. Knowing what we know now, would anybody undo the Dougie trade and draft this guy?

We could have Connor, Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson (or Daniel Sprong, drafted two spots later) at #45 and Jeremy Lauzon at #52. (Though we probably would have drafted Andersson and Kylington at 52 and 53 and then kept our two 3rd rounders.)

Nah. 6'5 top 3 dmen who have top pairing potential don't grow on trees. Dmen are worth more than equivalent forwards for the most part.

[White Out 403]

Had no idea Vessey already won. ...

How the hell did that happen? wow. not even close to the #s of Connor./

Oh well, doesn't matter... a little egg on my face lol

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Jets4Life

Connor was the best player in College hockey last year. The NCAA has been known to give preference to Ivy League schools, and to players that attend college multiple years. He's a lock for Rookie of the Year though.

Oh, at this point I think it's more than a lock.

You guys don't get the news out there in Winnipeg?

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Nah. 6'5 top 3 dmen who have top pairing potential don't grow on trees. Dmen are worth more than equivalent forwards for the most part.

I don't think you can just say one type is worth more than others. However, the Jets need scoring punch, and the Flames needed a top 4 D man. The right player went to the right team.

[OutOfTheCube]

Man, the Bruins really blew that draft, didn't they?

I suppose time will tell, ultimately, but that one looks like it might live in infamy for them.

Good.

[CgyFlamesftw]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

I don't think you can just say one type is worth more than others. However, the Jets need scoring punch, and the Flames needed a top 4 D man. The right player went to the right team.

Rookies and sophomores never seem to win. Gaudreau had the same case his sophomore year where he won scoring title I believe .

[Jets4Life]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Oh, at this point I think it's more than a lock.

You guys don't get the news out there in Winnipeg?

We only have dial-up on a 56k modem....

[Funkhouser]

Very early, but if a re-draft was to occur today, I suspect Conner would go top 5

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

Man, the Bruins really blew that draft, didn't they?

I suppose time will tell, ultimately, but that one looks like it might live in infamy for them.

Good.

Yet they gave away not one but two cornerstone players for absolutely no immediate return. Lucic and Hamilton for 3 1st round picks and 2 high 2nds and had to have one of the all time collapses to not make the playoffs this year.

in the words of Al Davis: Just win, baby

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Jets4Life

The NCAA has been known to give preference to Ivy League schools

Vesey was the first Ivy Leaguer to win the Hobey Baker in almost 30 years. Flames' draft pick, Lane MacDonald won in 1989.

[White Out 403]

hard to imagine what Boston was thinking passing on Connor three times, an American kid to boot.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

Man, the Bruins really blew that draft, didn't they?

I suppose time will tell, ultimately, but that one looks like it might live in infamy for them.

Good.

no kidding. Not taking Barzal and Connor was already a headscratcher back then ... one year later and it's looking a lot worse. Must really sting as a fan - not only did they lose a young defenseman who was supposed to be a cornerstone player, but they also blew that first round.

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by getbak

Vesey was the first Ivy Leaguer to win the Hobey Baker in almost 30 years. Flames' draft pick, Lane MacDonald won in 1989.

71 points for Connor, 46 for Vessey.

Pretty hard to wrap your mind around that decision, other than, it was a total snub to Connor who was clearly the best player in the NCAA.

[Imported_Aussie]

Originally Posted by getbak

Vesey was the first Ivy Leaguer to win the Hobey Baker in almost 30 years. Flames' draft pick, Lane MacDonald won in 1989.

To add to the above, Vesey most likely won due to his overall time in college - Hobey Baker is often reflective of a player's whole career, more often seniors/juniors win than a freshman

[bax]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

71 points for Connor, 46 for Vessey.



Pretty hard to wrap your mind around that decision, other than, it was a total snub to Connor who was clearly the best player in the NCAA.

On paper it looks like a snub, but it really isn't if you follow college hockey. The Hobey almost always goes to a senior or someone who has had at least two back to back successful season. It's like a nice parting gift. Really not indicative of Who was the better player overall

[devo22]

the NCAA loves to give the Hobey Baker to senior players and they often tend to pass over younger guys. I remember when Drew Leblanc won it instead of Gaudreau in 2013 ... Gaudreau probably had the better season, but they still gave it to Leblanc (a senior that year). Last year, Eichel was the first freshman to win it since 1993.

But yeah, in either case it's pretty crazy that Connor didn't win it.