WINNIPEG — Initially, it was impossible to know exactly what was said to trigger a rousing round of stick taps at the start of Winnipeg Jets practice. Still, it was easy to assume the subject matter had something to do with the news left winger Kyle Connor had just put pen to paper on a massive contract extension with the club.

Once the equipment had been peeled off, Jets coach Scott Arniel confirmed he kicked off practice by congratulating Connor, with just a little bit of cheekiness thrown into the celebration.

“I said, ‘We have some very big news; [rookie Nikita Chibrikov] just signed a two-year extension,’” Arniel relayed with a smile. “That got a good giggle, and I said he took less so we could get Kyle signed.”

With respect to Chibrikov and the deal he made a couple days ago, not

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