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Charles Krupa \/ Associated Press<\/p>\n
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) slides the puck out of the net after a goal by Boston Bruins centre Fraser Minten on March 19, 2026, in Boston.<\/p>\n
The Jets were able to extend his suspension (for failing to report to training camp) because of a clause in the collective bargaining agreement, Article 15.13, subsection (c)(v), which reads: \u201cIf a player who has not received permission to be absent from training camp returns to the club, he shall be subject to a disciplinary suspension of reasonable length.\u201d<\/p>\n
Due to the delicate nature of the subject, the Jets declined to make general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff available for questions on Saturday, while Hellebuyck\u2019s agent, Ray Petkau, did not respond to a message seeking comment.<\/p>\n
The report from Friedman was revealing, since there had been no public indication that Hellebuyck had taken any steps to end his holdout, which was the first in the NHL in roughly a quarter century.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s part of what makes the next steps in this process so blurry.<\/p>\n
Resolution in the form of the trade would be the easiest to unravel, though the market to acquire Hellebuyck has been anything but robust to this point.<\/p>\n
Might this latest pressure point \u2013 even if it\u2019s one the Jets were already aware of \u2013 help to expedite a trade prior to next weekend?<\/p>\n
Several league sources believe that\u2019s part of the reason Hellebuyck ended his holdout.<\/p>\n
Losing close to US $1 million in salary is probably a factor as well, even though Hellebuyck has made plenty during the past decade plus in the NHL.<\/p>\n
Could the end of the suspension date going public force one of the interested parties to enhance their offer to make the deal?<\/p>\n
Some teams around the NHL are likely searching for an upgrade.<\/p>\n
Given the harmonious nature of the Jets\u2019 locker room right now, paying Hellebuyck to stay at home is another option the organization can consider.<\/p>\n
The other option, for Hellebuyck to try to return to the group, would probably require some mending of fences \u2013 both in terms of a private apology and some explanation about whether or not his position has changed.<\/p>\n
If he did that the Jets would need to clear a roster spot and pay his salary. Hellebuyck would be the third goalie until a deal is worked out.<\/p>\n
Jets captain Adam Lowry said it was unfair to speculate what could transpire in the coming days, but shared similar sentiments to what Kyle Connor offered on the first day of training camp, when he was asked about Hellebuyck being absent.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo I love the decision, do I love the way it\u2019s dragged on? No. But we\u2019ll handle the situation when it comes,\u201d said Lowry. \u201cObviously we\u2019re disappointed, he\u2019s one of the best goalies in the world. But at the same time, it\u2019s news but it\u2019s unfair to speculate on what\u2019s going to happen between now and Friday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf he does show up, there\u2019s going to be conversations. There\u2019s going to have to be one of those water under the bridge things. We keep moving forward. We\u2019re a team, regardless of who\u2019s in the room.\u201d<\/p>\n
Connor wasn\u2019t interested in discussing the topic when it was raised on Saturday after the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not going to really comment on that,\u201d said Connor. \u201cWe\u2019ll save that stuff for later.\u201d<\/p>\n
If Hellebuyck shows up and rescinds his trade request, now that\u2019s another story \u2013 though that scenario seems very unlikely at this point and time.<\/p>\n
Cameras caught Cheveldayoff chatting with Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky prior to the game, which is noteworthy because the defending Stanley Cup champions are one of the teams that Hellebuyck has been linked to.<\/p>\n
There are other suitors, some of whom have yet to reveal their best offer, which only adds to the intrigue.<\/p>\n
The Jets have earned praise around the hockey world for their ability to sidestep any potential distractions and a 4-2-2 start has prevented any sense of panic from setting in.<\/p>\n
However, it\u2019s also true that as well as the Jets have played, the need to find secondary scoring could be addressed by bringing in a pair of middle-six forwards as part of a Hellebuyck package.<\/p>\n
Given the way Stuart Skinner and Clay Stevenson (who made 34 saves in Saturday) have performed, it\u2019s apparent the Jets no longer need to get a goalie back in a Hellebuyck trade.<\/p>\n
So that changes things a little bit, though agreeing on the value of the package the Jets get back in return is a work in progress.<\/p>\n
Jets head coach Scott Arniel has been adamant in his desire to focus on the players he has at his disposal and had zero interest in dealing with something that remains a hypothetical.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really don\u2019t care right now on that scenario,\u201d said Arniel. \u201cMy focus is we\u2019ve got St. Louis coming up. I\u2019ve got to do some review against Carolina, there are some areas I want to fix. You know what, that part, that falls down on (Cheveldayoff). I know there is stuff that happens. I\u2019m going to face that one when it happens.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know what next week is going to look like and at the end of the day for me, I\u2019ve got 23 guys and all they care about is winning hockey games. My preparation, my thoughts are on that. I\u2019m not worried about who is here and who is not here.\u201d<\/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 Who is not here is going to continue to be a story, both locally and nationally, for the foreseeable future and you can be sure the Jets would prefer the focus be on the Heritage Classic outdoor game and the alumni event that features the return of Dustin Byfuglien.<\/p>\n But the Jets aren\u2019t going to make a trade this week for the sake of making the noise go away.<\/p>\n The outcome of this is far too important for both the present and future of the franchise.<\/p>\n That\u2019s why Cheveldayoff is likely to continue to wait for a deal that appeals to him before finally pulling the trigger on a trade which will impact the Jets for years to come.<\/p>\n winnipegfreepress.com\/kenwiebe<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Ken Wiebe Ken Wiebe is a sports reporter for the Free Press, with an emphasis on the Winnipeg Jets. He has covered hockey and provided analysis in this market since 2000 for the Winnipeg Sun, The Athletic, Sportsnet.ca and TSN. Ken was a summer intern at the Free Press in 1999 and returned to the Free Press in a full-time capacity in September of 2023. Read more about Ken<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Ken produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/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<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Reporter
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