The Jets have signed left-wing prospect Kevin He to his three-year, entry-level contract, per a team announcement. The forward, amid his third season of major junior hockey with the Ontario Hockey League’s Niagara IceDogs, is the first Chinese-born player in league history to sign an NHL contract.
He, 18, was a fourth-round pick by Winnipeg in last summer’s draft. He was named captain of the IceDogs before the 2024-25 campaign started. That move foreshadowed a significant breakout for the Beijing native, who’s second on his club with 23 goals and 43 points through 29 games. That’s also good enough to put him in the top 15 of OHL scoring league-wide.
He has Canadian citizenship and was regarded as a mid-round talent by most in last year’s cycle. Elite Prospects lauded his “elite motor,” which, combined with his 6’0″, 181-lb frame, likely gives him enough offensive projectability to become not just the first Chinese-born player under contract but also the first one to make his NHL debut.
His deal will be subject to an entry-level slide for 2024-25, as he’s not expected to see NHL ice. If he plays fewer than 10 NHL games next season as well, his ELC could slide to as late as 2026-27. He’ll be a restricted free agent upon expiry, regardless. Winnipeg did not disclose the contract’s financial terms.