All quiet on the Hellebuyck front Absent netminder a notable exception at Jets pre-training camp skate By: Mike McIntyre Posted: 4:58 PM CDT Tuesday, Sep. 8, 2026

Pull up a chair, folks, as we address the elephant in the room. Or, to be more precise, the decorated goaltender who is not in the room. Or on the ice. Or even in the city.

Not surprisingly, the Connor Hellebuyck situation took centre stage Tuesday as members of the Winnipeg Jets held their first media session following an informal, pre-training camp skate.

“We’re definitely going to get asked about it. That’s no chirp to anybody. I think that’s just the reality of the situation,” admitted veteran defenceman Dylan DeMelo, who took part in an hour-long practice at Hockey For All Centre that involved nearly every member of the organization.

With one very notable exception, of course.

The noise is only going to get louder with each passing day as Hellebuyck remains at home in Michigan, awaiting news of a trade he’s demanded from the only NHL team he’s ever known.

Expect it to reach a roar if a deal isn’t done by next week when players under contract — as Hellebuyck is for five more years — are required to report to camp. And it threatens to become downright deafening if October rolls around, the regular season begins and Hellebuyck is essentially on strike.

“Obviously the situation is what it is. You spend so much time speculating on it you’re going to drive yourself crazy,” said Jets captain Adam Lowry. “Obviously it’s going to resolve itself one way or the other.”

When — and how — remain the burning questions.

“Obviously it’s going to resolve itself one way or the other.”

Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff isn’t going to give away Hellebuyck, who has three Vezina trophies, a Hart trophy and, most recently, an Olympic gold medal on what looks to be a Hall of Fame resumé.

But can the organization risk the potential distraction that is going to come with an unresolved situation? They came close to moving him at the NHL draft in late June, but a deal with the Buffalo Sabres fell apart. It’s been eerily quiet on that front ever since.

“I think from our perspective we’ve got to focus on getting ourselves ready for camp, getting the team ready and things like that. And as long as he’s a member of the Jets we’ll treat that situation as such,” said Lowry.

“Until that time, I don’t think it’s worth our time in the locker room speculating what’s going to happen. We’ve got to use the guys that are here and do our best to have a rebound year.”

Indeed, the Jets are banking on a bounce-back year after going from first overall to 26th. Doing so without Hellebuyck — or anything in return for him as long as he is sidelined — won’t help the cause.

“We just have to continue to control what we can control and that’s the guys here in this room right now. If Connor’s here or Connor’s not here, we gotta go about our business and we can’t let that be a distraction,” said DeMelo.

“Obviously, we just got to take in the day in and day out and whatever will unfold it, it’ll unfold and we’ll kind of cross that bridge when we get there. In regards to his comments and stuff like that, that’s kind of his business and for him to answer, to be honest.”

Hellebuyck, through agent Ray Petkau, recently put out a public statement confirming a trade request he made at the end of last season. The 33-year-old mentioned trying to “handle the situation quietly and respectfully while giving the organization time to explore its options.”

“My position has not changed, and I believe moving on is the best path forward for me and my family,” Hellebuyck said in the statement. “(I) hope a resolution can be reached soon.”

“Whatever will unfold it, it’ll unfold and we’ll kind of cross that bridge when we get there.”

There has been plenty of speculation about his reasons — from the big step back the team took last year to the backlash he and his family received in this market after U.S. President Donald Trump awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom following the Winter Olympics.

There’s no question that type of honour carries a lot more value south of the border given the current political climate, and it’s likely not a coincidence that Hellebuyck recently expanded his personal brand by opening an Instagram account and appearing at various U.S. events from fishing derbies to NASCAR to Celebrity Family Feud.

Naturally, his teammates were asked to weigh in on Hellebuyck’s desire for a change of scenery — and whether they are taking it personally.

“Helly is a good friend of ours, so it’s not something that we think is going to really impact the room. It’s not going to create a big divide,” said Lowry, whose July wedding in Winnipeg was attended by Hellebuyck.

“It’s a personal decision that he’s made and one that he thinks is best for his family, and until that situation’s resolved we’re just going to approach it — he’s our teammate, he’s our friend, and go from there.”

DeMelo said it’s always difficult when the business side of hockey comes into play.

“For me individually it’s kind of an extra wrinkle because we are friends, our wives are friends, we have kids the same age. Our kids were playing hockey together and doing all this stuff, horsing around in the room and all these things,” he said.

“He is a friend first and foremost. It’s definitely a hard situation overall. I’ve never been a part of something like this. It’s all new to all of us. I think we’re just going to cross that bridge when we get there. We just hope at the end of the day he’s happy.”

DeMelo, who is about to enter his eighth season with the Jets, has repeatedly pushed back at the narrative that nobody wants to play in Winnipeg, which is based on how often the organization is on no-trade lists around the NHL coupled with not exactly being a free agent haven.

Is the Hellebuyck situation going to add more fuel to that fire?

“I would hope not,” said DeMelo.

“He is a friend first and foremost. It’s definitely a hard situation overall.”

“We’ve obviously re-signed a bunch of quality players. Guys that have come here that have loved their time here. I think maybe one example of (a player asking out) will not give it a bad taste. I hope it wouldn’t. I can’t control what other people feel. I can only say great things about the city. I’ve loved my time here. This place is an amazing place to play. An amazing place to raise a family. A great organization, (from) top to bottom.”

The Jets signed Stuart Skinner this summer — he’s also represented by Petkau — along with veteran defenceman Mario Ferraro. They also drafted 18-year-old Viggo Bjorck eighth overall, with the hope he can jump right in and inject some speed and skill into a lineup that was sorely lacking in that department a year ago.

All of those storylines are likely to take a backseat to the “As the Hellebuyck Turns” show until it is resolved.

“We’re just going to worry about getting ready for camp, putting our best forward. We feel comfortable with the group that we’ve got,” said DeMelo.

“If Connor comes, obviously that will elevate us. He’s a fantastic player; he’s been a big part of this group. Again, we’ll cross that bridge if we get there.”

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