Jets sign Beijing native Kevin He to 3-year, entry-level contract
Posted December 17, 2024 11:35 am.
Last Updated December 17, 2024 11:38 am.
The Winnipeg Jets made history with their latest signing.
Winnipeg signed forward Kevin He to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced Tuesday, making him the first Chinese-born player to sign an NHL contract.
The contract carries an average annual value of $975,000 in the NHL.
He, 18, has had a stellar start to the season with the Niagara IceDogs while serving as captain for the OHL squad. He has 23 goals and 20 assists in 29 games and has helped them to a 20-9-1-1 record, good for third in the Eastern Conference.
He’s in his third season with the IceDogs and has 75 goals and 55 assists in 159 games.
Born in Beijing, he moved with his family to Canada at six years old, originally setting down in Montreal before moving to Toronto at 12 and playing for the North York Rangers AAA program in the GTHL.
He was selected in the fourth round (109th overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft and was just the second Chinese-born player to be drafted to the NHL after Andong Song was selected by the New York Islanders in the 2015 Draft.
