Winnipeg Jets open camp without Connor Hellebuyck as team keeps contract goalie in limbo

WINNIPEG — Connor Hellebuyck remains with the Winnipeg Jets, but the situation will continue until the team finds “the right deal” for its franchise goalie, the NHL reported on September 17. In the meantime, Jets players opened training camp Thursday without him following the team’s suspension of Hellebuyck for failing to report to camp.

Hellebuyck’s teammates addressed the moment shortly after the suspension was reported. Jets forward Kyle Connor said, “It’s tough,” adding that teammates are “heartbroken” and that he would not speculate on the reasons until Hellebuyck speaks.

Cheveldayoff emphasized that Winnipeg is approaching the trade request without letting the process become emotional or personal. He said the organization’s goal is to find a resolution that can “push this organization forward” with a different player or players, and noted that Hellebuyck remains part of the Jets “until he’s not part of our family.”

The NHL’s report recalled that Hellebuyck publicly confirmed on August 27 that he requested a trade earlier in the offseason. The 33-year-old is under contract through five more seasons on the seven-year, $59.5 million deal signed October 9, 2023.

The Jets also acknowledged the broader context of their recent season, having missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs after winning the Presidents’ Trophy in 2024-25. The report noted Hellebuyck’s individual achievements with Winnipeg, including three Vezina Trophy wins (2020, 2024, 2025) and that he is the franchise’s all-time leader in wins, save percentage, goals-against average and shutouts.

With training camp now underway and Hellebuyck unavailable, Cheveldayoff said the team is still seeking a return that matches the value of a player who has been central to the franchise, while keeping the process open-ended rather than tied to a specific timeline.

Written by Vancouver Television Sports Desk