Connor Hellebuyck's standoff has reached Scott Arniel's locker room, and Kyle Connor has now made the stakes public.
The Winnipeg Jets opened training camp without their No. 1 goaltender after Hellebuyck failed to report and was formally suspended by the club.
Now Kyle Connor has pulled back the curtain on just how difficult the situation has become inside Winnipeg's room.
Connor told reporters that players have been left heartbroken by Hellebuyck's push for a trade. He also revealed that he personally tried to convince his longtime teammate to stay.
Heard from #NHLJets forward Kyle Connor who describes the Hellebuyck situation as “heartbreaking.”
Says he tried to talk him out of it, but respects that he has to make his own decision.
“For some reason if he changes his mind and re-commits here obviously we'll welcome him with open arms and we still love the guy. It's just a very tough situation.”
“Come back and just play or come back and re-commit to this organization. I think that's the biggest question, if he just comes back I mean that's gonna be a pretty tough situation to walk into to be honest.”
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That conversation didn't change Hellebuyck's position. Connor said he respects the goaltender's right to make his own decision, but his message about a possible return was much stronger.
Simply reporting back to the Jets wouldn't erase what has happened. Connor made it clear that Hellebuyck would need to fully recommit to Winnipeg if he wants to step back into that locker room.
And that distinction matters. The Jets aren't just waiting for their starter to walk through the door. They're dealing with the fallout of a trade request that has now become personal for teammates.
Kyle Connor leaves the door open
Connor didn't close that door completely. He said Hellebuyck would still be welcomed if he changed course and committed himself to the organization again.
That leaves Winnipeg facing an uncomfortable training-camp reality. Scott Arniel has to prepare his team while one of its biggest names remains away from the group.
A trade isn't simple either. Hellebuyck carries an $8,500,000 cap hit, placing him among the NHL's highest-paid goaltenders.
Buffalo had reportedly been involved in serious discussions around draft time, while Carolina has also surfaced as a possible destination. No deal has been completed.
General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has said Winnipeg wants any move to keep the Jets focused on winning and that there is no set timeline for a trade.
Connor's comments now add another layer to the saga. Hellebuyck's next move won't only affect Winnipeg's crease and trade market. It will determine what kind of relationship remains with the teammates still waiting for an answer.
Should Connor Hellebuyck recommit to the Jets if no trade happens?
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