Connor Hellebuyck at the center of a dream trade that's going wrong for the Jets

Connor Hellebuyck's trade market still hasn't produced an offer that excites the Winnipeg Jets. And the silence is getting loud.

Frank Seravalli went on Thursday's Jason Gregor Show and said Winnipeg hasn't seen anything even close to a package that gets the front office excited.

Then came Friday night. Stuart Skinner, not Hellebuyck, was in the crease for the season opener against the Boston Bruins.

Skinner stopped 26 of 30 shots. The Jets dropped a 4-3 overtime decision on home ice, with John-Jason Peterka scoring the winner.

Sit with that for a second. Winnipeg's $8,500,000 goaltender didn't log a single minute in a game that needed extra time.

That cap hit ranks fourth among NHL goalies, right alongside Thatcher Demko. It's a heavy number to move in October, and every buyer on the phone knows it.

Stuart Skinner's opener puts Winnipeg's crease under a microscope

Skinner carries a $3,750,000 cap hit. That's less than half of what the Jets are paying the guy everybody keeps asking about.

Jeremy Swayman turned aside 30 of 33 at the other end. Winnipeg outshot Boston and still walked out with one point.

Kyle Connor did his part with a power-play goal, a shorthanded assist and nine shots on goal. The $12,000,000 winger can't stop pucks, though.

The blue line had a rougher night. Josh Morrissey logged 24:22 and went minus-2, while Neal Pionk led all Jets skaters at 25:59.

So what exactly is Kevin Cheveldayoff waiting for?

A real return. Moving a goalie like this for a bag of futures that might pan out by 2030 would be a bad trade, plain and simple.

Shopping that goalie right now feels like listing a house in the middle of a January blizzard. Somebody will make an offer, but nobody's paying asking price.

In the meantime, Scott Arniel has to run a crease with trade chatter swirling around it. The Jets visit Detroit for a Sunday afternoon puck drop, then play in Pittsburgh on Monday.

That's a road back-to-back right out of the gate. The Red Wings were held scoreless by the Rangers on Friday, so Detroit's offense won't scare anyone yet.

Should Hellebuyck start Sunday, the noise quiets for a night. Another game without him, and every call into Cheveldayoff's office gets a lot more interesting.

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