Winnipeg Jets star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck's team suspension for not reporting amid a trade request could end on Friday, Oct. 23, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reports.
Sportsnet's Friedman, citing sources, said Hellebuyck had requested to return to the team on Oct. 2. But the Jets had backing from the collective bargaining agreement to continue his suspension.
"Specifically," Friedman writes, "Article 15.13, subsection (c)(v), which reads: 'If a Player who has not received permission to be absent from Training Camp returns to the Club, he shall be subject to a disciplinary suspension of reasonable length.'
"The word 'reasonable' is doing some heavy lifting here,
but, according to those same sources, the end date for this suspension is Friday, Oct. 23. At that time, Hellebuyck would be able to rejoin the team."
Hellebuyck has forfeited more than $700,000 in pay, according to the website hellebucks.com. He is signed through 2031 at an $8.5 million cap hit.
General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said at the draft that he had been listening to teams' offers for Hellebuyck. But he heard nothing that would persuade him to move a goalie who had won three Vezina trophies, one Hart Trophy as MVP, plus a gold medal for the USA at the 2026 Olympics.
Stuart Skinner and Clay Stevenson have been in net for the Jets while Hellebuyck has been out. Winnipeg was 4-1-2 heading into Saturday's game.
Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin, a fellow U.S. Olympian, also has requested a trade. But he reported to training camp and is playing for the Red Wings.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Goalie Connor Hellebuyck's team suspension from Jets could end next week | Report
