Winnipeg’s crease remains in holding pattern as Connor Hellebuyck’s reported suspension end date approaches Friday. The Jets have not closed the door on their franchise goaltender returning, but coach Scott Arniel said Monday that neither the room nor the coaching staff knows what comes next.
- Connor Hellebuyck remains suspended after failing to report for training camp on Sept. 16. His suspension is reportedly due to expire Friday.
- Hellebuyck requested a trade during the offseason and publicly confirmed that request on Aug. 27, saying he believed a move was best for himself and his family.
- Winnipeg could trade Hellebuyck, bring him back to the NHL roster, keep him away from the club while continuing to pay him, or assign him for a conditioning stint.
- Coach Scott Arniel said the Jets are not rejecting a Hellebuyck return. “Nobody here is saying we don’t want him,” he said, while stressing the situation remains unclear.
- General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff is handling the goaltender’s status as the coaching staff prepares the current roster for games.
- Cole Perfetti said the locker room wants players committed to the club’s objectives. He said Hellebuyck returning with that commitment would be positive news.
- Stuart Skinner has carried the larger share of Winnipeg’s work without Hellebuyck, posting a 3-0-2 record, 2.76 goals-against average and .906 save percentage in five starts.
- Clay Stevenson is 1-2-0 with a 3.08 GAA and .893 save percentage through three starts.
- The Jets are 4-2-2 to begin the season. Arniel credited the leadership group for keeping outside noise from taking over the room.
- Hellebuyck is in Year 3 of the seven-year, $59.5 million contract he signed on Oct. 9, 2023. Its average annual value is $8.5 million.
What it means for the game in St. Louis
Winnipeg heads to St. Louis on Tuesday for an 8 p.m. ET meeting with the Blues, with the goaltending picture unchanged for now. Skinner and Stevenson remain the available tandem while the club waits for clarity on Hellebuyck’s status.
Perfetti called the coming stretch important, with the Jets also visiting the Dallas Stars on Thursday before hosting the Montreal Canadiens in the 2026 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic on Sunday at Princess Auto Stadium. The outdoor game is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
“We’re concerned with the 23 players in this room and winning games together,” Perfetti said. “We have two huge divisional games this week, and that is where our attention is.”
Hellebuyck remains the most accomplished goalie in Jets history, holding club records for appearances by a goalie (625), starts (615) and wins (345). Among Winnipeg netminders with more than 77 games played, his career .916 save percentage and 2.58 GAA are both the best marks.
The 33-year-old won the Hart Trophy and his third Vezina Trophy in 2024-25, when Winnipeg captured the Presidents’ Trophy. He went 47-12-3 in 63 games, led the NHL with a 2.00 GAA, 47 wins and eight shutouts, and finished with a .925 save percentage.
He also went 5-0 for the United States at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics, recording a 1.18 GAA and .956 save percentage while helping the Americans win gold.
Last season was a different story for both player and club. Winnipeg missed the playoffs, finishing seventh in the Central Division and eight points out of the final Western Conference wild-card spot. Hellebuyck went 23-23-11 in 57 starts with a 2.86 GAA and .895 save percentage, the lowest save percentage of his 11 NHL seasons. He did not record a shutout.
Under the NHL/NHLPA collective bargaining agreement, a player absent from camp without authorization can face a suspension of reasonable duration upon returning. Arniel said the Jets will have firmer answers only if Hellebuyck arrives at the building or a transaction changes the situation.
