Winnipeg Jets’ Kyle Connor, Nate Schmidt enter COVID-19 protocol

Credit: Terrence Lee-USA TODAY Sports

A mere nine goals short of his first 50-goal campaign, Winnipeg Jets left winger Kyle Connor has entered COVID-19 protocol alongside teammate Nate Schmidt.

The pair enter protocol while in Buffalo ahead of a Wednesday night game against the Sabres and will also miss games Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs and Saturday against the LA Kings.

For Connor, he’s amid his most productive season in the NHL. The 25-year-old has scored career highs in goals (41), assists (41) and in points (82), all the while averaging a career-high 21:52 TOI per game.

Ahead of the protocol placement, Connor had 15 games left to be able to his the 50-goal mark, but that number now shrinks down to just 12 games to score nine goals. His average of 0.61 goals per game should get him close to the mark, if he’s able to keep up pace.

His teammate Schmidt, meanwhile, has been having a strong offensive season in his own right. In 66 games, he’s tallied four goals and 31 points with his point total five off his previous career-high of 36.

Connor is in the third season of a seven-year deal paying him an AAV of $7.142 million while Schmidt is in season three of a six-year deal paying him an AAV of $5.95 million, all according to PuckPedia.

Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.