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![\"Ruth](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/4321816_web1_260420-Cheveldayoff-1-.jpg\")
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Ruth Bonneville \/ FREE PRESS FILES<\/p>\n
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Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has expressed no concern over what was said during his franchise goaltender\u2019s exit interview back in mid-April.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
As it pertains to Hellebuyck, they aren\u2019t willing to make an exception at this time.<\/p>\n
Efforts to reach Hellebuyck\u2019s agent Ray Petkau for comment have been unsuccessful, though his silence in this scenario is on brand.<\/p>\n
Much like the approach the Jets prefer to take in trying to keep their business out of the public eye, Petkau isn\u2019t one to seek the spotlight or fan the flames.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s been obvious since Hellebuyck stepped in front of a group of reporters after his exit interviews in mid-April was that he wasn\u2019t happy with what had just transpired and wasn\u2019t thrilled with his first look into the crystal ball about the future.<\/p>\n
A few days later, Cheveldayoff expressed no concern about what was said and actually praised the competitiveness of Hellebuyck, suggesting it merely reinforced his commitment to winning.<\/p>\n
Since that time, the storm had seemingly quieted.<\/p>\n
The expectation was that the Jets were aware of Hellebuyck\u2019s frustration and they would address some of those concerns this off-season with upgrades to the roster.<\/p>\n
Equally important, after sounding the alarm, the thought was that Hellebuyck would be front and centre in the process of trying to put that disappointing season in the rearview mirror.<\/p>\n
So, what\u2019s changed?<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Mike Sudoma\/Free Press FIles<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n When Hellebuyck stepped in front of a group of reporters at the end of the season, he wasn\u2019t happy with the team’s direction for the future.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Nothing officially, other than this recent example of trying to connect the dots, which comes on the heels of another one of Hellebuyck\u2019s gold medal-winning teammates from the United States \u2014 Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin \u2014 asking for a trade and that request becoming public.<\/p>\n On the heels of Quinn Hughes forcing his way out of the Vancouver Canucks organization in a blockbuster deal with the Minnesota Wild last season, there are signs that NHL players are becoming bolder in trying to force their way into their optimal scenarios.<\/p>\n Naturally, observers are trying to predict who the next player to try and change addresses might be.<\/p>\n Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet acknowledged that there\u2019s a lot of noise surrounding Hellebuyck on Monday\u2019s edition of 32 Thoughts and Darren Dreger of TSN said on Wednesday that the Jets were at least listening on Hellebuyck as a way to potentially address other needs.<\/p>\n That doesn\u2019t mean a trade is imminent, but it\u2019s a signal that the vultures are lurking and the prospect must at least be acknowledged.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not a regular occurrence that a goalie of Hellebuyck\u2019s calibre is available, either in free agency or trade. It sounds like teams are trying to gauge what the price tag might eventually be.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Tony Gutierrez \/ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Rumours have been swirling that Winnipeg Jets franchise goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has not only asked to be traded but has supplied his preferred destinations to the Jets general manager.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Make no mistake, that ask is going to be high and the Jets would appear to at least have some leverage, even if Hellebuyck is the one who has a full no-movement clause and would need to sign off on any deal before it goes through.<\/p>\n Hellebuyck is a franchise pillar and a large haul would be required for the Jets to even consider moving on from him. But with the Jets looking for upgrades, Hellebuyck would qualify as the player who should fetch the biggest return. It would also leave a massive hole between the pipes, unless the Jets got a top-end goalie in return.<\/p>\n So, what comes next for Hellebuyck and the Jets? The relationship status isn\u2019t as complicated as it might seem, at least not yet.<\/p>\n Even if Hellebuyck got to the point of insisting on playing elsewhere, it wouldn\u2019t be the first time the Jets faced that scenario with an important core piece.<\/p>\n There are multiple examples of players who asked for a deal \u2014 some on multiple occasions \u2014 dating back to Evander Kane, Jacob Trouba, Patrik Laine and Pierre-Luc Dubois.<\/p>\n Some of those players ended up getting to their preferred destination and others did not.<\/p>\n One of the common themes in each of those scenarios was that the Jets didn\u2019t make a panic move at the first sign of trouble; they held firm until an offer that was appealing enough to them was put forth by another team.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t JOHN WOODS \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n The trade that sent Pierre-Luc Dubois to the Los Angeles Kings brought back multiple pieces that added to the Winnipeg Jets’ depth.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The Kane and Dubois deals brought multiple pieces that brought back talent and stretched out the depth, while the Trouba deal brought back a top-four D-man in Neal Pionk and a first-round pick that became Ville Heinola.<\/p>\n Laine\u2019s move brought a two-way pivot that was supposed to solve the second-centre situation, though Dubois ended up asking to be moved out himself and the position still requires an upgrade.<\/p>\n While it\u2019s true the Jets had to move critical pieces of the puzzle, they\u2019ve never had to deal their Most Valuable Player or the backbone of the team. And, coming off the Olympic gold medal performance, Hellebuyck still has five years remaining on the \u201clifetime contract\u201d he signed with the Jets.<\/p>\n Given the rising salary cap, his annual average value of US$8.5 million is more than manageable for almost every potential suitor, even if it takes him into his late 30s. And the three weeks the 33-year-old was sidelined with a knee issue this past season represent the only substantial time he\u2019s missed due to injury in more than a decade.<\/p>\n \n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n \t\t\tThe Warm-Up<\/p>\n Winnipeg Jets Game Days<\/p>\n On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.<\/p>\n \t\t\tSign up for The Warm-Up<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t He\u2019s the type of goalie that teams believe can push them over the top. And that\u2019s why Cheveldayoff will hold firm on his asking price.<\/p>\n Now, it\u2019s important to remember that during the off-season \u2014 before Hellebuyck and fellow franchise cornerstone Mark Scheifele signed their matching extensions \u2014 many observers believed there was little chance either player would finish that season with the Jets.<\/p>\n Not only did they stick around, but they also signed up for seven more after their contracts were set to expire.<\/p>\n So while the prospect of Hellebuyck not finishing out this one could eventually become a reality, moving the guy often referred to by his teammates as \u201cthe best goalie in the world\u201d during the next several weeks isn\u2019t necessarily a foregone conclusion. Even if those whispers about Hellebuyck\u2019s future seem to be threatening to become a roar.<\/p>\n winnipegfreepress.com\/kenwiebe<\/p>\n winnipegfreepress.com\/mikemcintyre<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Ken Wiebe Raised in the booming metropolis of Altona, Man., Ken Wiebe grew up wanting to play in the NHL, but after realizing his hands were more adept at typing than scoring, he shifted his attention to cover his favourite sport as a writer.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 Read full biography<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Mike McIntyre Mike McIntyre grew up wanting to be a professional wrestler. But when that dream fizzled, he put all his brawn into becoming a professional writer.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 Read full biography<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber<\/a>.<\/p>\n Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.<\/p>\n \t\t
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