Connor Hellebuyck is officially not reporting to Jets training camp, which makes what he said in 2023 a lot harder to sit through.
Gino Hard pulled the old clip back up this week, from the press conference after the goaltender signed his seven year extension.
"Now I'm ready to be a Jet for life. This organization believes in me the way I believe in myself, and that's kind of the way I've gotten to where I am now."
"And it's really hard to leave that. That breeds success, and I want to thank you guys a lot for believing in me the way I believe in myself."
"And now I'm ready to be a Jet for life and bring a cup to the city, because I truly believe that we can get it done here."
Three years later, the guy who said that is not walking through the door in Winnipeg. Players change their minds and that is allowed.
What lands badly is the word life, said on camera, in a city that kept the receipt.
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Jets fans react as Connor Hellebuyck skips camp after “Jet for life” vow
That is the practical fallout. Seventeen wins in 50 games and a .888 save percentage is what the bench is working with now.
Behind him is Thomas Milic, 23 years old with three NHL appearances. That is the entire depth chart.
The money did not go anywhere either. A 33 year old carrying an $8.5 million cap hit, fourth highest among goaltenders in the league.
The season that preceded all this did not help the argument. A .895 mark over 57 appearances with no shutouts.
Winnipeg went 35-35-12 and ranked 26th. The Jets scored 231 goals and gave up 260.
The ending was worse than the record. Four straight losses to close it out, capped by a 6-1 night against San Jose at home.
The room is banged up too. Neal Pionk, Alex Iafallo, Morgan Barron and Vladislav Namestnikov are all day to day and questionable for the opener.
None of it is on the forwards. Mark Scheifele put up 103 points on the exact same cap number as the goaltender.
Kyle Connor scored 39 times beside him. That is a top six doing its job while the crease became a headline.
So what does a cup for the city mean now that the guy who promised it is not in the building?
Promising a city a career is like carving initials into a tree. Cheap in the moment. Very hard to sand off later.
Edmonton hosts the Jets on Saturday for the preseason opener. Somebody else will be in that net, and everybody in Winnipeg will notice.
Do Jets fans have the right to feel betrayed by Connor Hellebuyck after his Jet for life promise?
Also read on Markerzone.com:
Police get involved as Connor Hellebuyck and his family endure a tough scenario in Winnipeg
