WINNIPEG - Kevin Cheveldayoff seemed to have the weight of the hockey world on his shoulders while trying to stickhandle around the awkward situation currently brewing with disgruntled goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.
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Cheveldayoff → seem → Hellebuyck
On Thursday, the Winnipeg Jets general manager held court with reporters for 23 minutes, showing emotion at times while being peppered with questions about his all-star netminder.
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manager → hold → netminder
While Cheveldayoff faces a tough task ahead in securing a trade package that would keep his club competitive, he seemed determined to stay the course.
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he → face → course
“We are a team that has been trying to be competitive,” Cheveldayoff said.
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Cheveldayoff → try → ?
“We’ve been trying to push things forward and try to win on a regular basis.
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We → try → basis
When Connor came and asked and requested to being traded, we kept it quiet.
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we → come → it
That was partly on his request as well, and we tried to make that work and we’ve been trying to make that work ever since.”
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that → try → request
Hellebuyck was scheduled to arrive for training camp medicals Wednesday, with the first on-ice session the following day.
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Hellebuyck → schedule → session
When it became clear he wasn’t coming, the Jets issued a public statement that evening, suspending the 33-year-old for failing to report.
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Jets → become → old
The absence and ensuing suspension of the three-time Vezina and 2025 Hart Trophy winner looms large, casting a dark shadow over a season meant for redemption.
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absence → ensue → redemption
The Jets finished 35-35-12 last year — seventh in the Central Division and 26th overall — just one season removed from winning the Presidents’ Trophy for the league’s best regular season.
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Jets → finish → season
Hellebuyck signed a seven-year, US$69.5-million dollar extension in October 2023.
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Hellebuyck → sign → October
At the time, he told reporters that he wanted to be a “Jet for life” and had an unwavering belief in the team’s potential to chase and win a Stanley Cup.
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he → tell → Cup
Just two years into the deal, Hellebuyck has had a sudden change of heart.
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Hellebuyck → have → heart
“There’s probably lots of whys, and unfortunately, this situation is what it is,” Cheveldayoff said.
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Cheveldayoff → ’ → s
“We’ve been dealing with it for a period of time now, and just looking to find a resolution that works for both sides.
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that → deal → sides
Hellebuyck publicly confirmed his desire to leave in a late-August statement from his agent, Ray Petkau, claiming the Jets have had enough time to resolve the situation.
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Jets → confirm → situation
Cheveldayoff noted the trade request first came in April, shortly after Hellebuyck helped lead the United States to Olympic Gold and immediately after Winnipeg missed the playoffs.
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Winnipeg → note → playoffs
He said the Jets received no warning about when Hellebuyck’s camp planned to go public, only that they would.
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they → say → warning
During his own season-ending press conference, Hellebuyck blasted the team’s speed, called the season “unacceptable” and something “no one wants to be a part of,” and took a shot at Cheveldayoff’s off-season decisions.
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one → end → decisions
“Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion and their own thought process,” Cheveldayoff said.
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Cheveldayoff → ’ → opinion
”(The) thought process of the team has always been to win.
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process → win → team
That has not changed, and also is the premise around the thought process of the trade.
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That → change → trade
We are still trying to win.
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We → try → ?
Hellebuyck has been linked to multiple teams, including the Buffalo Sabres, Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils and Utah Mammoth, among others.
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Hellebuyck → link → others
Despite a full no-movement clause, reports suggest Hellebuyck is open to joining a U.S.-based team, so long as they’re competitive.
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they → suggest → team
Cheveldayoff wouldn’t confirm which teams he’s spoken with and questioned the accuracy of some trade reports.
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he → confirm → reports
He added he wouldn’t be pressured into a move, understanding understood the magnitude of a any deal for the short- and long-term future of the Jets.
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understanding → add → Jets
He said the rest of the players have shown resilience and had a collective chip on their shoulder from last season’s disappointments.
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rest → say → disappointments
“We’re talking about a goaltender here, which is different than talking about a centre, different than talking about a defenceman,” Cheveldayoff said.
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Cheveldayoff → talk → defenceman
“If you’re a team that has a bona fide No. 1 goaltender ... you’re probably not interested, and it’s not disparaging Connor Hellebuyck or anything like that, it’s just the goalie market in general.”
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it → ’re → general
The situation intensified after the statement from Hellebuyck’s camp, with this line particularly damning: “My position has not changed, and I believe moving on is the best path forward for me and my family.”
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moving → intensify → me
Hellebuyck previously took exception to intense backlash following his gold-medal performance for the U.S., and for his visit to Donald Trump’s White House to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
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Hellebuyck → take → Freedom
He claimed afterwards he and his family were subjected to severe harassment online.
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he → claim → harassment
Cheveldayoff said the team did its best to support the Hellebuyck family — providing additional security and police presence — but couldn’t provide specifics.
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team → say → specifics
Now, he’s focused on trying to help him find a new hockey home.
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him → ’ → home
“I have to keep a level head.
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I → have → head
I can’t let emotion come into play in any regard,” Cheveldayoff said.
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Cheveldayoff → let → regard
“Connor Hellebuyck’s part of our family until he’s not part of our family.
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he → ’ → family
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2026.
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report → publish → Press
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