Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff insists he'll remain patient about potentially trading goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, even after the club suspended him for failing to report to training camp.
"This isn't necessarily a time thing," Cheveldayoff said Thursday, per Sportsnet. He added, "My obligation is to the Winnipeg Jets, the Winnipeg Jets players, and the Winnipeg Jets fans. I guess for me, I just want to get this right."
Hellebuyck reportedly requested a trade after the Jets missed the playoffs in April. He went public with the request in August and is now suspended for breaching the rules of his contract. The star netminder will not miss out on any pay unless he remains absent once the regular season begins. Winnipeg's first game is scheduled for Oct. 2 against the Boston Bruins.
Recent reports indicated trade talks surrounding Hellebuyck have cooled off since June's draft. Cheveldayoff said he hasn't received an offer he's comfortable accepting.
"What we have to understand here is that we're talking about moving Connor Hellebuyck," he said. "We're talking about moving a player that has been very, very important to this franchise and is a very good player in the National Hockey League. And we expect that a level of return would be commensurate to that."
Cheveldayoff added, "There has been nothing that has allowed us to say 'OK, this works for both parties, both teams.'"
Hellebuyck is under contract for five more seasons at a cap hit of $8.5 million. He also owns a full no-movement clause, meaning he'd have to approve of wherever he might be traded.
The 33-year-old is coming off a down year in which he posted an .895 save percentage, but he has an MVP, three Vezina Trophies, four All-Star selections, and an Olympic gold medal on his resume. Hellebuyck posted three consecutive seasons with a .920 save percentage or higher before regressing in 2025-26.
Although Hellebuyck's 11-year tenure with the Jets appears to be coming to a close, Cheveldayoff won't rule out a potential return if the netminder has a sudden change of heart.
"No door is closed. It's a player that's under contract and under contract for five years," Cheveldayoff said, according to TSN. "To think that a teammate couldn't walk back in that dressing room and continue to compete, I don't believe that."
