Jets ‘waiting to see’ what happens with Hellebuyck, who could return this week

The Winnipeg Jets say they’re open to Connor Hellebuyck returning to the team, though they’re unsure what will happen with the star goalie’s suspension reportedly ending Friday.

“I don’t think our whole group is saying, ‘Oh, we don’t want you. We don’t want you,’” coach Scott Arniel said Monday. “There’s some things that have happened on the outside that have probably built that narrative. There’s none of us saying that.

“Right now, everybody’s waiting to see. The players are waiting. We’re waiting. I’m waiting. The coaches are waiting. We’re trying to all wait and see how this plays itself out, and really, it’s an unknown for us.”

Hellebuyck, a winner of the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player and three-time winner of the Vezina Trophy as the League’s best goalie, requested a trade in the offseason. Winnipeg suspended him Sept. 16 when he didn’t report to training camp.

Sportsnet reported Sunday that Hellebuyck informed the Jets before their first regular-season game of his intention to return to the team.

The NHL/NHLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement says if a player who hasn't received permission to be absent for camp returns to the team, he will be subject to a suspension “of reasonable length.” 

Sportsnet reported the end date for Hellebuyck’s suspension is Friday.

“That’s all we know,” Arniel said. “We’re not sure what the next play is going to be.”

The Jets could trade Hellebuyck, pay him to stay home, send him to the minor leagues for a conditioning stint or put him back on the team. 

“I think things will play themselves out, and we’ll have a lot more answers for you -- myself, (general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff), the players -- when that time arrives, when he shows up in this building or if he ends up here. That’s about all I can say, because it’s all unknown right now for all of us.

“So, ‘Chevy’ is handling that. He’s dealing with that stuff. And for us, we can only just focus on what we can focus on. And I’m not bailing away from anything. Until he shows up here or whatever may happen, or a trade happens or whatever that is, it’s hard to talk about. It’s hard to kind of move forward on. ...

“Honestly, it’s not us saying, ‘Ah, we don’t want anything to do with him anymore.’ We’re really just trying see how this plays itself out.”

Forward Cole Perfetti said the Jets “want guys that want to be here.”

“We have big goals and aspirations for this season, so we know what we want to do,” Perfetti said. “All that we want is guys that want to be committed to that goal 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.”

Hellebuyck won the Hart, plus the Vezina for the third time, when Winnipeg won the Presidents’ Trophy as the League’s top regular-season team in 2024-25. He went 47-12-3 with a 2.00 goals-against average, a .925 save percentage and eight shutouts in 63 games (62 starts), leading the League in wins, GAA and shutouts.

He helped Team USA win gold at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics in February, going 5-0 with a 1.18 GAA and .956 save percentage in five games (five starts).

But the Jets missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season, finishing seventh in the Central Division and eight points behind the Los Angeles Kings for the second wild card in the Western Conference. Hellebuyck went 23-23-11 with a 2.86 GAA and an .895 save percentage in 57 games (57 starts). The save percentage was the lowest of his 11-season NHL career, and he had no shutouts for the first time.

The 33-year-old went public with his trade request before camp. He is in the second season of a seven-year, $59.5 million contract ($8.5 million average annual value) he signed with Winnipeg on Oct. 9, 2023.

“I have tried to handle the situation quietly and respectfully while giving the organization time to explore its options,” Hellebuyck said Aug. 27 in a statement released by agent Ray Petkau. “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 past forward for me and my family.”

Winnipeg is off to a 4-2-2 start without Hellebuyck. Stuart Skinner is 3-0-2 with a 2.76 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage in five games (five starts). Clay Stevenson is 1-2-0 with a 3.08 GAA and an .893 save percentage in three games (three starts).

“I’ve got to tip my hat to our leadership group, our captains,” Arniel said. “Those guys have done a really good job of staying within the room, staying focused on what our goal is, what our assignments are, what our job is, and really trying not to let the outside noise get in. And it’s a big outside noise.”

Hellebuyck is Winnipeg’s all-time leader in games played (625), games started (615) and wins (345) among goalies. His career .916 save percentage and 2.58 goals-against average are the best among goalies who have played more than 77 games for the Jets.

The Jets visit the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday (8 p.m. ET; BN+, STLNHL, TSN3) and the Dallas Stars on Thursday.

They host the Montreal Canadiens in the 2026 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg on Sunday (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, SN, TNT, truTV, HBO MAX).

“We’re worried about the 23 guys in this locker room and winning hockey games as a group,” Perfetti said. “I don’t think our mindset’s going to change on that. We have two massive in-division opponents coming up this week, so that’s our focus right now, and we’ll cross that bridge (with Hellebuyck) when we get there.”