The Winnipeg Jets saw something special in Connor Hellebuyck.
In
2012, the organization drafted him in the fifth round, 130th overall.
Few could have predicted what that would lead to.
More than a decade later, Hellebuyck had earned three Vezinas and
a Hart Trophy. He had also won the hearts of Winnipeggers and Jets fans
around the world. He was on track to be a local legend.
Then came the heartbreak. The cozying up to a U.S. president who
was threatening Canadian sovereignty. The trade request. The failure to
report to training camp. The suspension.
The Jets are moving on without him. The season is underway. The
team has a new look and a new attitude. Meanwhile, Hellebuyck is in
limbo. And that’s costing him, day by day.