Connor impresses early on

DALLAS - One game into the new NHL season, Jets forward Kyle Connor looks like he's ready to take big jump from his impressive rookie campaign in where he led all freshmen with 31 goals.
Connor along with his line mates Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler were Winnipeg's best trio in the 5-1 win over the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night combining for six-points. While Connor had a goal and an assist, it could have had more than that if you ask Scheifele.

"You see yesterday, (he) probably could have had five goals and made a lot of great passes as well," said Scheifele. "It just shows when you put the hard work in the summer, it's only going to reward you once you get to the season."

It certainly doesn't hurt that Connor gets to play with two players like Scheifele and Wheeler, two players who do so many little things right and taking pieces of their game to make his better.
"Just playing with a lot of consistency and just playing with lots of speed," said Connor. "That's when we are all at our best. I think when we push the pace, it's really good."

The improvements the Michigan product has made over his career has caught the eye of many, including the defencemen that go up against him in practice every day.
"I think most of the guys on our team would say he's taken the biggest steps the last couple of years, he's turned into a serious player," said Tyler Myers. "He does so many good things. One thing you notice with him is how quick he is. When he's moving his feet you can tell a defender has trouble sticking with him. He's been unreal for us."
Connor remains modest despite all of the outside praise.
"Nothing much has changed for me, I've always played the same game," said Connor. "I'm just more familiar with my teammates and line mates out there."
Jets head coach Paul Maurice was asked if there was a moment last season where he saw the light go on for Connor and he didn't hesitate to answer.
"In Carolina (March 4, 2018 - a 3-2 Jets win over the Hurricanes)," said Maurice. "He didn't score any points and he was getting to a peak of frustration but his game was right on. He was all over the puck, all over his man and it was a full sprint every shift and that's where I thought he's made the transition. When you stop worrying about your points, you just go out and play a certain style of game. Whether you get points or not, then you're all right."

The Jets practiced at American Airlines Center on Friday afternoon and Patrik Laine and Bryan Little did not participate. Maurice said there is no concern that either one will miss Saturday's game against the Stars.
Without Laine and Little, here are the line rushes and defence pairings from practice:
Connor-Scheifele-Wheeler
Lemieux-Perreault-Dano
Copp-Lowry-Tanev
Vesalainen-Roslovic-Ehlers
Morrissey-Trouba
Chiarot-Byfuglien
Morrow-Myers
Kulikov
Hellebuyck
Brossoit
Connor Hellebuyck is slated to start against the Stars, he went 3-0 against Dallas in 2017-18.