The Jets confirmed the suspension on Wednesday night after Hellebuyck failed to show for the opening of camp. It is only the second time since 2011 that Winnipeg has grounded a player for the same reason, the previous case being defenceman Dustin Byfuglien in 2019.
The team did not put a length on the suspension. General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff is due to address the media at 10:30am local time on Thursday at Hockey For All Centre.
Hellebuyck, 33, went public with his trade request on August 27, saying through his agent Ray Petkau that he had informed the organization “several months ago” and given it time to handle the matter quietly. He has spent all 11 of his NHL seasons with the Jets.
From Olympic hero to Oval Office guest
Hellebuyck was the face of the United States men’s ice hockey team that won the country’s first men’s Olympic gold since 1980 at Milano Cortina in February. He stopped 41 of 42 shots in the gold-medal game against Canada, which Jack Hughes won in overtime, and finished the tournament with a 1.18 goals-against average.
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The victory pulled him into American politics. During his State of the Union address on February 24, Trump announced that Hellebuyck would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honour in the United States, and welcomed the entire squad to the chamber.
“I’ve never seen a goalie play as well as Connor Hellebuyck,” Trump said.
The team’s subsequent visit to the White House drew heavy criticism in Canada. Hellebuyck’s wife, Andrea, was targeted with online abuse and, according to reporting compiled by Yahoo Sports, with death threats from Canadian fans.
“The blowback my wife was getting is just not fair. I don’t understand how she can take so much heat for just being with me as a hockey player,” Hellebuyck said in March.
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A contract that both sides are stuck with
Hellebuyck carries an $8.5 million annual cap hit with five years left, and his full no-movement clause gives him a veto on any destination. TSN’s Darren Dreger has reported that he will not waive that clause for any Canadian franchise, ruling out Edmonton and Montreal from the outset.
Insider Chris Johnston has described the market as thin. Offers have been called “terrible” and the Jets have set a steep asking price, with talks involving Buffalo and Carolina stalled.
Last season was the worst of Hellebuyck’s career on the ice. He posted a .895 save percentage, a 2.86 goals-against average and a 23-23-11 record as Winnipeg slipped from Presidents’ Trophy winners the year before to seventh in the Central Division and out of the playoffs. He was still the reigning Hart, Vezina and William M. Jennings Trophy holder from that 2024-25 run.
NHL players are not paid until the regular season begins. Hellebuyck’s first missed paycheck arrives when the puck drops in October.
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