Connor Hellebuyck trade to Cup contender was done until this happened, leaving the Jets stuck

Connor Hellebuyck badly wants his situation to end, and the Jets weren't sold on the offer from the place he wanted to go.

Elliotte Friedman reported that the goalie's initial target was Florida. But the Jets "weren't crazy about the Panthers' offer," and no deal followed.

The timing is the hard part. "Players want to play, and this time of year your body clock is telling you to 'get off the couch,'" Friedman said.

That's not the quote of a player content to wait this out.

The Jets open Friday at home against Boston, and every day without a resolution makes the noise around this team louder.

Florida, meanwhile, got along fine on opening night. Jacob Markstrom stopped all 15 shots he faced in a 1-0 overtime win at Carolina.

Sergei Bobrovsky's exit left a hole Florida wanted Hellebuyck to fill

The Panthers' interest makes sense. Sergei Bobrovsky now plays in Toronto after seven seasons in Florida, and that's a big chair to fill.

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Bill Zito put an offer on the table, which tells you how seriously Florida took the idea.

Kevin Cheveldayoff didn't bite. Friedman has also reported the Jets set a high bar for any return and fear a domino effect if they get this deal wrong.

Holding firm made sense in August. On the eve of the season, with a player who badly wants to play, it's starting to look stubborn.

It's like a runner stuck behind the start line while everyone else has already taken off. The longer he stands there, the worse the race gets.

Mike McIntyre doesn't believe Hellebuyck would agree to go to another Canadian market. That shrinks the list, and Florida was clearly at the top of it.

The schedule adds a twist. The Jets face the Panthers twice in four days, Oct. 27 in Winnipeg and Oct. 30 in Florida.

If nothing changes by then, those games become a very public look at the team he wanted to join. And a very awkward week for everyone in Winnipeg.

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