Chevy standing pat, for now

Jets GM keeping options open regarding Scheifele, Hellebuyck

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Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff says all options are still on the table when it comes to No. 1 netminder Connor Hellebuyck and top centre Mark Scheifele.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/09/2023 (755 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff says all options are still on the table when it comes to No. 1 netminder Connor Hellebuyck and top centre Mark Scheifele.

The two stars have been the subject of plenty of trade speculation during the summer, based on the fact they’re entering the final year of their respective contracts. Typically, teams will want to fish or cut bait in those situations — either lock up the player with an extension, or move them rather than see them walk away in free agency.

Yet here the Jets are, one week away from the start of training camp, and the status quo remains. Don’t hold your breath on any pending developments, either.

Chris O’Meara / The Associated Press files
                                Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (above) and centre Mark Scheifele are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents at the end of the 2023-24 NHL season.

Chris O’Meara / The Associated Press files

Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (above) and centre Mark Scheifele are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents at the end of the 2023-24 NHL season.

“What I stressed to their representatives, what I stressed to Mark, and I’ll do the same with Connor when I see him, is we’re here to win. We’ll take the contract side of things and we’ll put it off to the side here,” Cheveldayoff said Tuesday.

“We’ll have whatever discussions we need to have, or can have, or will have, but the focus is winning. We made the (Pierre-Luc Dubois) trade with the premise in mind that we were going to add some good players to our lineup, and give us some depth and dimension I think in the choices the coaches have. But make no question about it, we’re trying to win.”

That certainly sounds like no decision, one way or the other, is imminent, and that this potential problem (along with any potential solutions) will be kicked down the road a bit.

Just how far remains to be seen.

“I’m asking them to think on parallel tracks here and the parallel track that is the No. 1 with the freight train on it and that is what we’re all about (trying to win now),” said Cheveldayoff.

“There are things in this game — that’s why they have representatives and the like — and we’ll have the appropriate conversations at the appropriate time… We’ll see how it all plays out.”

There’s no question the Jets would love to extend the 30-year-old Hellebuyck, who has been nominated for the Vezina Trophy three times and won once. But it doesn’t appear the feeling is mutual, or at least it hasn’t been in the past. He will make US$6.166 million this year and is due for a significant spike in pay.

As for Scheifele, the 30-year-old scored a career-high 44 goals last year but holes in his game remain, particularly in the defensive end. Whether the Jets and their first draft pick from 2011 want to continue their relationship long-term is unclear. Scheifele will make US$6.15 million this year.

It would appear Cheveldayoff hasn’t liked what he’s heard so far in terms of potential trade returns for either player, and he’s not looking to simply get draft picks or unproven prospects. And so we wait, perhaps until the March 8 trade deadline or even beyond if the Jets were at or near a playoff spot and not looking to sell.

Scheifele arrived in Winnipeg last week and has joined a group of Jets players and prospects at the hockey for all centre in holding informal skates. Hellebuyck has yet to arrive from his offseason home in Michigan, with training camp not set to begin until next Wednesday.

Cheveldayoff said he spoke to Scheifele over the weekend about the decision to name Adam Lowry the next captain. Lowry, along with Scheifele and Josh Morrissey, all served as alternates last year.

“I’m going to keep the conversations I have with their representatives or the players individually private and confidential,” he said.

“Obviously I had a conversation with Mark here the other day when we informed him that we were going this direction from a leadership (standpoint). We had a good talk about his situation and where they’re at. Helly is coming into town shortly, and we’ll sit down and have a good conversation there.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg

Mike McIntyre

Mike McIntyre
Reporter

Mike McIntyre is a sports reporter whose primary role is covering the Winnipeg Jets. After graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College in 1995, he spent two years gaining experience at the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in 1997, where he served on the crime and justice beat until 2016. Read more about Mike.

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