- The Jets suspended Connor Hellebuyck on Wednesday for failing to report to training camp
- Elliotte Friedman reported the goalie told Winnipeg in advance that he would not be there
- Read below for the contract problem behind the standoff and where the trade market sits
Connor Hellebuyck is suspended.
The Winnipeg Jets announced Wednesday that the three-time Vezina Trophy winner has been suspended for failure to report to training camp. General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff will address the media at 10:30 a.m. CT on Thursday at Hockey For All Centre.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman filled in the part the team statement left out. Hellebuyck had already told the Jets he would not be in attendance, and the deadline to report on time was Wednesday afternoon.
None of this arrived out of nowhere. Hellebuyck confirmed on Aug. 27, through agent Ray Petkau, that he had asked Winnipeg for a trade earlier in the summer.
“I have tried to handle the situation quietly and respectfully while giving the organization time to explore its options. With training camp approaching, I felt it was important to publicly confirm my request. My position has not changed. I believe moving on is the best path forward for me and my family.”
A trade has not come together, and the market is the reason. We covered Darren Dreger calling the offers terrible earlier this week, and interest around the league is still believed to be minimal:
His contract is the reason this is so hard to solve. Hellebuyck has four years left on the seven-year, $59.5 million deal he signed in October 2023, an $8.5 million cap hit that runs through 2030-31. He also carries a full no-movement clause, so he decides where he goes.
He is not the only one who pushed this offseason. Carolina announced Wednesday that Alexander Nikishin would skip camp as well.
Two years ago Hellebuyck was the best player in the league. He won the Hart and his third Vezina in 2024-25 after going 47-12-3 with a 2.00 goals-against average, a .925 save percentage and eight shutouts in 63 games, and the Jets took the Presidents’ Trophy at 56-22-4.
Last season went the other way. Knee surgery cost him four weeks in the fall, he finished 23-23-11 with a 2.86 GAA and an .895 save percentage in 57 games, and Winnipeg missed the playoffs at 35-35-12.
February was a different story. Hellebuyck went 5-0 with a 1.18 GAA and a .956 save percentage at the Milano Cortina Olympics and made 41 saves against Canada in the gold medal game.
Winnipeg drafted him in the fifth round in 2012 and he has never played anywhere else. Since 2015-16 he leads all goalies in games and starts and sits second in wins with 345.
Cheveldayoff takes questions Thursday morning with his starter suspended and his camp already open.
