Connor Hellebuyck was suspended by the Jets in the latest salvo between the star goaltender and the NHL club.
Hellebuyck did not report to training camp this week, which triggered the suspension that was announced on Wednesday and is expected to be addressed by Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff on Thursday when he meets with reporters.
The gold medal-winning goalie publicly requested a trade out of Winnipeg earlier this summer in a statement through his agent, Ray Petkau, stating that he had “tried to handle the situation quietly and respectfully while giving the organization time to explore its options.”
“With training camp approaching, I felt it was important to publicly confirm my request,” his August statement read. “My position has not changed, and I believe moving on is the best path forward for me and my family.
“I appreciate everything Winnipeg Jets fans have meant to me throughout my career and hope a resolution can be reached soon.”
Hellebuyck, 33, is going into the third year of his seven-year contract extension and was slated to enter training camp as one of six goaltenders on the Jets roster.
The American netminder had made waves at the end of last season when he publicly criticized the organization for missing the playoffs and questioned the team’s ability to build a winner.
“For me, it’s winning a Stanley Cup. That’s my goal, and that’s all I have left,” Hellebuyck said in April, according to The Athletic. “I don’t play this game for the money, I don’t play it for the fame. I do it for my own personal fun, and part of that is winning a Cup. For me, I’m just looking at … How can I get that? How can I get there?”
The next steps for the situation will develop in the coming days, but if Hellebuyck remains suspended by the time that the regular season starts, he will miss out on his $8.5 million salary until he is reinstated.
If Hellebuyck is suspended when the regular season starts, his contract will not count against the salary cap.
