Connor Hellebuyck Situation May Be About To Take A Drastic Turn.

We are now several days into the National Hockey League season with no indications of any kind that the Winnipeg Jets and star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck are any closer to finding a trade partner, but despite that the situation around the start netminder may be about to change.

A Return To The Jets?

On Monday morning, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman revealed that there has been talk lately that, despite everything that has transpired following a trade demand from Hellebuyck, we might see Hellebuyck return to the Jets lineup.

"There's starting to become a lot of talk about Hellebuyck potentially coming back," revealed Friedman on the 32 Thoughts podcast.

Things Might Be About To Get Very Ugly.

It sounds like this may be more a case of Hellebuyck feeling like he has to return than actually having any real desire to do so, and it sounds like absolutely no one is going to be happy about this if it does come to pass.

"I don't think anybody involved here wants that," said Friedman. "I don't think Hellebuyck wants that, I don't think the Jets want that, I don't think the Jets players want that, I don't think the Jets fans want that."

There are two huge problems for Hellebuyck here however, with the first being a massive loss of income as a result of his decision not to show up this season. Hellebuyck is losing a staggering $38,660 each and every day he doesn't show up to play, and that has to wear on a man.

It gets worse though. Back during the 1999-2000 season former Ottawa Senators forward Alexei Yashin sat out the entire year in a situation that mirrored the one Hellebuyck finds himself in now. That dispute led to Yashin's contract rolling over to the next season with a neutral arbitrator ruling that he stilled owed the Senators the final year of his contract, something that would apply to Hellebuyck now if he too chooses to sit out the entire 2026-27 NHL season.

"It's just that if this drags on, eventually he may have no choice," said Friedman of Hellebuyck's potential return to the Jets.

We've already seen a similar situation this season when now former Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin returned to the team after demanding a trade, with Larkin being mercilessly booed by his own hometown fans, and I have no doubt that a similar reception awaits Hellebuyck in Winnipeg if he does indeed return to the ice.