- Adam Lowry says “conversations” are coming if Connor Hellebuyck returns
- Scott Arniel wants no part of the question and points to Kevin Cheveldayoff
- Read below for what the Jets captain said after the loss to Carolina
Adam Lowry isn’t ready to hug it out with Connor Hellebuyck.
The Jets captain was asked Saturday night about the possibility of Hellebuyck rejoining the team when his suspension ends. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported earlier in the day that the ban runs out Friday, Oct. 23, and Lowry made it clear the goalie can’t just walk back in and carry on.
Lowry talked about the situation after Winnipeg’s 3-2 loss to the Hurricanes.
“He’s a good friend of mine. Do I love the decision? Do I love the way it’s dragged on? No. But we’ll handle the situation when it comes. Obviously we’re disappointed with the outcome, he’s one of the best goalies in the world”
Then he got to the part that matters.
“I think if he does show up there’s going to have to be conversations, there’s going to have to be kind of one of those water under the bridge things. Like I said we keep moving forward, we’re a team regardless of who’s in the room”
Lowry also wouldn’t predict how it plays out. He called it unfair to speculate and said there’s still a lot of time between now and Friday.
Here’s the report that started the conversation, from our timeline:
Head coach Scott Arniel was asked the same thing and wasn’t interested. He said his focus is on the St. Louis game and fixing a few things from the Carolina loss, and he pointed the question at general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff.
“I’m going to face that one when it happens, alright? I don’t know what next week is going to look like”
Cheveldayoff and Hellebuyck’s agent, Ray Petkau, both declined to comment to Friedman. Our earlier post on the suspension has the CBA language behind the Oct. 23 date.
Winnipeg is 4-1-2 without Hellebuyck, with Clay Stevenson stopping 34 of 37 against Carolina. He has forfeited more than $720,000 in salary so far and is signed through 2030-31 at an $8.5 million cap hit, with a full no-movement clause that gives him a say in any destination.
Friedman floated one possibility for next week: the Jets pay him to stay home. Friday is six days away.
