Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-17 · by Jeff Hamilton The Canadian Press
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.
asserted
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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