Jets make a waiver move with Hellebuyck set to re-join the team

This just in, the Winnipeg Jets have made a few transactions today all with an eye on goaltender Connor Hellebuyck's potential return to the roster on Friday.

First the team has moved defenseman Josh Morrissey to Injured Reserve and have called up youngster Brayden Yager from the AHL's Manitoba Moose. Additionally, the Jets have placed forward Walker Duehr on waivers.

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported this past weekend that Hellebuyck's team-suspension expires on Friday and that, should he choose, he is eligible to re-join the team. It sounds like though, again according to Friedman, that the team isn't interested in having Hellebuyck officially join the team. If he's a member of the Jets come Friday, it'll be on paper only.

“My belief is that if Winnipeg can't trade him by Friday, they'll just tell him, look, we're going to pay you, but you're not coming in. That's what I expect to happen. I especially don't expect to see him there," Friedman said on this weekend's 32 Thoughts podcast. "The Jets have the option to pay him and stay away."

"The Jets don't want his return to overshadow the Heritage Classic game," Friedman continued. "Was initially ready to report to the opener, but around the time of the home opener he informed the Jets he was ready to return. Because he had left them and not shown up without permission, the Jets had some added power under the CBA where they could give him a suspension of reasonable length. The NHL's lawyers and the Players Association's lawyers worked out an agreement where reasonable was about two and a half to three weeks."

Stay tuned. If we don't have a trade before Friday, things may take on an entirely new look.