The TSN Hockey Insiders join Gino Reda to discuss the return of Connor Hellebuyck being tracked in days and not weeks for the Winnipeg Jets, Team Canada’s roster consideration list being trimmed down more, how serious the NHL is taking gambling, the Colorado Avalanche wearing Nordiques jerseys for their game in Montreal on Jan. 29 and Gary Bettman’s future.

Gino Reda: With the insiders Darren Dreger, Pierre LeBrun, and Chris Johnston.

Gentleman, while we’re here at the Board of Governors meetings in Colorado Springs, the big news in the NHL on the day comes out of Winnipeg where Connor Hellebuyck is back on the ice and of course Dregs, everyone is asking the question, when is he going to be ready to play?

Darren Dreger: Well, we’re courting it in days now, not weeks or possibly longer than that, so great news for the Winnipeg Jets and Connor Hellebuyck and obviously for Bill Guerin and Team USA, as they have been keeping close tabs. Hellebuyck was on the ice on Monday. He continued with his practicing, mostly goalie movements, nothing more than that on Tuesday. But he felt so good afterwards that they felt they could elevate more quickly. So, the goalie movements will translate into taking shots. Connor Hellebuyck, believe it or not, wanted to play as early as this weekend, and the Jets said hold on a minute, let’s back off. So, it is highly, highly unlikely that he will be back in the crease this weekend, but I’d look to have him back in the net and starting for the Jets potentially next week.

Reda: Hellebuyck and Jets fans chomping at the bit, and while we’re here in Colorado Springs, some important meetings were taking place in Florida as well, and we’re whittling down that list for Team Canada Pierre.

Pierre LeBrun: Yeah, I spoke to Doug Armstrong, the GM of Team Canada after they wrapped up their three days of meetings and what Doug Armstrong said is that they whittled down the list that they had around 40 on Nov.10 when they met in Toronto, that list is now in the low 30’s. They’ve got more players on the list that their continuing to scout between now and Dec.31 and that what they’re going to do now, is send their GMs on the road and look at those final seven or so roster decisions they have left in terms of the bubble guys.

He made the point of telling me that they haven’t written off anyone from the four nations yet. I find that hard to believe when it comes to Sam Montembeault myself, but I think he was referring to the skaters, so almost there, they’ve cut that list down again.

Reda: The BOG’s had a very special guest, the FBI was here, and I guess what’s happened on the gambling front in other sports league, the NHL needs to take this so seriously.

Chris Johnston: Yeah, I think it’s a reflection of how serious they do take it, and look, this isn’t new in the sense that last month that when the general managers got together, similar presentation made there, We know later this month that the coaches will be part of a call with the same information and I think you can’t be too careful when it comes to this. There’s the obvious stuff; you can’t gamble on hockey, that’s pretty clear. But there’s a little more nuance about what you can do legally, what you can tell people and part of the message delivered to the governors was that if anyone contacts you with any suspicious questions the league wants to know about. We’ve seen these issues pop up in other leagues, notably in the NBA of late, and the NHL is going to do everything they can to prevent that.

Reda: Pierre, another gem you uncovered with these meetings, coming up, a special day in Montreal, Jan.29.

LeBrun: Well, I’d say our colleague Francois Gagnon of RDS uncovered it, but I did follow up on it as I spoke with Colorado Avalanche president Joe Sakic and he confirmed that it’s looking very likely that the Avs will wear their Nordiques retro jersey for the game in Montreal on Jan.29. It requires league approval which they will sign off on when the Habs and Avalanche are ready to make the news official. So, you’ll have the blue Nordiques jerseys and the red Habs jerseys; it should be pretty spectacular.

Reda: Part of what’s become an annual tradition at the board of governor’s meetings, Pierre asks the commissioner Gary Bettman. Hey, what about your future? Has the executive committee given you any idea about you and your future as the commissioner of the NHL? We’ll give the final word on Insider Trading to the commissioner.

Gary Bettman: Safe travels, happy holidays.