It’s definitely time for current Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck to move on in his career.
Hellebuyck, who has had a Hall of Fame career which has seen the 33-year-old win three Vezina Trophies (2020, 2024 and 2025), the William Jennings Trophy (2024, 2025), the Hart Trophy in 2025 and participate in four All-Star Games (2018, 2020, 2023, 2024), is not exactly popular with Jets fans or his current teammates these days.
As hockey fans know, last off-season, Hellebuyck shocked the hockey world when he demanded a trade and when no trade was made, showed just how serious he was by holding out from the Jets training camp and the beginning of the season, which on September 16, resulted in the Jets suspending him.
Despite making it known to Jets General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff prior to the season that he wanted to come back and was ready, the team didn’t lift the suspension.
No doubt, there is an uncomfortable, tense feeling around the team about the uncertainty of whether Hellebuyck would be returning to the club if a trade could not be made before the team suspension was over.
When asked about it, Cheveldayoff didn’t shut down the possibility of this borderline Hall of Fame goalie coming back.
However, the million-dollar question is: could he be accepted back and trusted by his teammates? Also, how would the fans react to Hellebuyck coming back? If he does return, Hellebuyck will need to play some exceptional goaltending for quite some time for fans to perhaps forgive him.
Hellebuyck’s Return Could Have Negative Impact
Could Hellebuyck Hurt Team Chemistry?
Having Hellebuyck back in the Jets dressing room could easily cause a lot of friction and even tamper with the team’s chemistry, which is why the Jets should make a trade in the near future.
“If he does show up, conversations are going to have to happen,” Jets captain Adam Lowry said. “There’s going to have to be one of those water-under-the-bridge things.”
Lowry also went on to state, “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.”
Meanwhile, forward Cole Perfetti, who with six goals and nine points, is off to a fast start, was asked about the possibilities of Hellebuyck coming back and was brutally honest in his reply by saying the Jets “Want guys that want to be here.”
He also went on to add, “We have big goals and aspirations for this season, so we know what we want to do. All that we want is guys that want to be committed to that group with us, so if he comes back and shows that he wants to be a part of this and recommits to this group, then that’s obviously good news.”
Looking to bounce back after missing the playoffs, Winnipeg is off to a 4-3-2 start, and their current number one goalie, veteran Stuart Skinner, has not only gotten off to a 3-1-0-2 start with a 2.65 GAA and .910 save percentage, but has also emerged as a fan favorite among Jets fans.
Hellebuyck Doesn’t Want to Play in Canada
In news that is especially crushing to the Edmonton Oilers, Hellebuyck announced in early October that he doesn’t want to be traded to a Canadian team.
This is especially bad news for the Oilers, who are set in every position except starting goaltending to make a serious run next spring at the Stanley Cup.
According to Canadian sportcaster and writer Pierre LeBrun, the San Jose Sharks are now among the frontrunners to acquire Hellebuyck.
The one player San Jose would more than likely have to trade in a Hellebuyck deal is 24-year-old goaltender Yaroslav Askarov, who last season posted a 21-20-4 record with a 3.60 GAA and 0.884 save percentage.
Originally drafted in 2020, 11th overall by the Nashville Predators, Askarov hasn’t gotten off to the best start this season, going 2-4-0 in his first six games with a 3.67 GAA and 0.865 save percentage.
The Last Word
On Friday, October 23, when the team suspension finally comes to an end, there is a chance, according to NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, that Hellebuyck, if not traded, might be asked to stay away from the team while the team continues to try and work out a trade.
“I don’t think that’s what anyone wants– not Hellebuyck, not the Jets, not the players, not the fans– but that’s where we could be next week, barring a trade,” Friedman said back in mid-October. “Neither Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff nor agent Ray Petkau would comment. More on this story as it develops, but that’s where we stand right now.”
Currently, Hellebuyck is in the third season of a seven-year $59.5 million contract.”
Main Image: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
