On the October 10th edition of TFP’s Hotstove on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio with David Pagnotta and Ryan Paton, Pagnotta mentions chatter that Connor Hellebuyck is considering returning to the Winnipeg Jets, as he wants to play and the trade standoff continues.
NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
The Winnipeg Jets; Connor Hellebuyck Saga Continues
Ryan Paton: “Let’s get into Connor Hellebuyck. This is just, I mean, the last number of months have been nuts with what’s happening, and he’s not with the team. He’s spent all the stuff that everyone’s been speaking of. The saga continues. You said you had some potential tidbits on the latest.”
Dave Pagnotta: “Yeah, I guess we’ll get to it because we’re probably going to hear more about Connor Hellebuyck over the next few days. I don’t know if this gets addressed later today with our boy Elliotte Friedman on Saturday Headlines, or if this is going to be something that’s going to come up later on in the week. I know Jeff Marek has addressed this as well , but just extending on that, don’t be surprised if we hear, Pats, a little bit more on Hellebuyck’s side with respect to coming back to Winnipeg.
The paychecks aren’t coming in anymore because of the suspension; obviously, he’s holding out. He’s left the team, but it’s a combo with that. But more so, he’s not playing. And you can practice all you want by yourself away from the team, away from an NHL team. But it’s not going to do you wonders.
Look, a couple years ago at Jeremy Swayman missing camp, coming back, and it took him the whole season. It was not great the whole season. Took him a good chunk of the season before he started getting going a tiny bit, and then last season a lot better. This year he’s doing his thing, but you don’t have that training camp period, even though it’s shortened now. That can hurt, especially on the goaltending front.
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So anyway, don’t be surprised if we start hearing more on Hellebuyck’s front with respect to coming back to Winnipeg. At the same time, don’t be surprised if we hear pushback from the club itself and the guys in that room. An early indication from the people I’ve talked to is that, they’re not overly thrilled with the possibility of him coming back into that room after leaving.
A different situation than Dylan Larkin, right? Larkin asked for a trade. He wasn’t moved. He’s eating all the garbage that’s being thrown at him, and I totally understand why. I’m not saying the fans shouldn’t do it- boo the guy because he was your captain and he’s left, and I get it.
But he’s facing the music. Full credit to Larkin for that. Hellebuyck thought that a trade was going to happen. It obviously didn’t, and he held out. So it’s a different situation now to come back into that environment. Awkward conversations are going to happen. Uncomfortable conversations that will need ot happen.
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We’ll be hearing more of this, but it is starting to make the rounds across the league that Hellebuyck is considering returning to the club, and some guys on that team aren’t overly thrilled about it.”
NHLRumors.com Note: Remember the door has always been open for Connor Hellebuyck to return to the Winnipeg Jets from GM Kevin Cheveldayoff. Cheveldayoff sees Hellebuyck as family. However, unlike the players in Detroit, who said they would take Dylan Larkin back and understand it’s a business, the players in Winnipeg have been vocal about Hellebuyck coming back.
Remember, Kyle Connor said that if Hellebuyck returned, he needs to be in the right mindset. Hellebuyck needs to come in and want to help the team win, not just collect a paycheck.
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As Ryan Paton and David Pagnotta discussed, it is an unwelcome distraction for a team that is performing well with Stuart Skinner and Clay Stevenson between the pipes. The players feel he isn’t a part of the team. So lots of conversations will need to happen, along with a press conference, as to why he wanted out and chose to come back.
Again, like with Alexei Yashin, the team is in control because players want to play. Yashin came back after a year and the Ottawa Senators rolled his contract over. Jets could do the same with Hellebuyck, but that means the no-move clause rolls over too. He has a 10-team no-trade clause next July 1st.
It is better to play than sit out. Connor Hellebuyck chose to sit out. Even if he comes back, how good will he be?
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