Connor Hellebuyck asked out during his exit physical, Winnipeg Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff said Monday, not right after the Olympics.
Cheveldayoff made the comments on TSN 1050's OverDrive.
That puts the request after the 2025-26 regular season wrapped, not in the immediate aftermath of the Milano Cortina Games.
So much for the Olympic theory. The timing points at a season's worth of frustration more than a few weeks in Italy.
Cheveldayoff said he warned the goalie's camp early that moving a franchise netminder is complicated. Every team has multiple forwards and defensemen, but there's only one net.
Selling a starting goalie is like selling a grand piano. Plenty of people admire it, but almost nobody has the room.
So how ugly did it get?
Jets GM reveals when Connor Hellebuyck actually asked to leave Winnipeg
When September came and no deal was done, Hellebuyck refused to report to training camp and drew an unpaid suspension.
The Jets finally moved him to New Jersey late last week.
The package included Dawson Mercer, goaltender Nicolas Daws, prospect Alexander Command, a 2027 seventh and a 2029 second.
Cheveldayoff called it a return he was “comfortable” with and said he never truly believed there was a chance to change Hellebuyck's mind.
Comfortable is a generous word for a package without a surefire star in it.
Mercer has 4 assists and no goals through 11 games this season.
Daws owns an .872 save percentage in 4 appearances.
The Jets sit at 4-4-3, with Florida visiting tonight.
Stuart Skinner has handled the bulk of the work in net, posting a .911 save percentage.
Kyle Connor's line about welcoming players “who want to be here” reads a little sharper now.
Hellebuyck carries an $8,500,000 cap hit with the Devils, who sit at 7-4-0.
He's due back at Canada Life Centre with New Jersey on November 10.
Cheveldayoff called the fan base “very passionate” and “very creative.” He'll be away at GM meetings that night.
Convenient timing. The rest of Winnipeg will be in the building, and it's had all summer to get creative.
Source : Jets GM Cheveldayoff reveals a bomb about the Connor Hellebuyck trade saga
Should Jets fans boo Connor Hellebuyck when he returns on November 10?
Also read on Markerzone.com:
Nick Kypreos sees an Erik Karlsson trade coming, but one big question remains
