Jets entering season of uncertainty Questions surrounding future of Scheifele and Hellebuyck threaten to be huge distraction By: Mike McIntyre Posted: 5:50 PM CDT Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023 Last Modified: 11:39 AM CDT Friday, Sep. 1, 2023 Updates

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/08/2023 (1084 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The fact it’s nearly September and Mark Scheifele and Connor Hellebuyck are still members of the Winnipeg Jets is not breaking news around here. It is, however, a surprising summertime development.

Neither star has signed a long-term contract extension. Nor are they likely to. It means the club’s No. 1 centre and No. 1 netminder, who can become unrestricted free agents next July 1 and have been the subject of countless trade rumours, will probably hit the ice for training camp three weeks from now under a massive cloud of uncertainty surrounding their futures.

It would be a huge risk for general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and the organization, one they appear willing to take despite the potential to backfire in multiple ways.

Here are five burning questions surrounding the proverbial elephants in the dressing room.

1) They’re not really going to lose one, or both, players for nothing, are they?

It certainly wouldn’t be prudent asset management for a draft-and-develop team such as Winnipeg, which is never going to be mistaken for the Vegas Golden Knights or Tampa Bay Lightning of the NHL when it comes to the ability to recruit and sign big free agents or pull off blockbuster trades with ease.

Yet the odds of a Calgary Flames-Johnny Gaudreau situation eventually playing out in our own backyard — perhaps twofold — are increasing with each passing day.

That would leave quite a smoldering crater behind.

Now, it needs to be said the definition of “nothing” is up for debate. Yes, getting no assets in return for two departing UFAs of this kind would be tantamount to zilch. Keep in mind the Jets would also have significant cap space open up, although what they would/could do with it is unknown. So that’s something.

They’ve also got plenty from both players, selected in the first (Scheifele, 2010) and fifth (Hellebuyck, 2012) rounds respectively, over the course of their careers. That’s not “nothing”, even if it is little consolation in a “what have you done for me lately” business.

This is why the original point still stands: This would represent a worst-case scenario, no doubt about it.

 

2) What about moving them between now and the start of the season?

With the dog days of summer quickly winding down and NHL GMs coming back from their cottages and getting back to work, it’s possible the quiet trade market could heat up.

Boston still makes sense for Scheifele, given its glaring need for not one, but two high-quality centres following the retirements of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejčí. Does Don Sweeney get desperate and call up Cheveldayoff and make him an offer he can’t refuse in the next few weeks?

If so, what might the Bruins have that could benefit the Jets, who seem keen on getting a haul that can help now, rather than a few years down the road. A re-tool, rather than a rebuild.

As for Hellebuyck, you’d think the list of potential suitors would be long, with New Jersey at the top of the list of teams in “win-now” mode that have been sniffing around for an upgrade in net. Again, it all comes down to price, both in terms of what Winnipeg would want and how the Devils could make the salary work.

There’s also the pivotal issue of whether Scheifele and Hellebuyck would be open to signing long-term deals now (as Pierre-Luc Dubois did prior to being dealt to Los Angeles). If not, and they want to test unrestricted free agency next summer, that would reduce any potential return.

We know the notoriously patient Cheveldayoff isn’t going to rush into anything. At some point, the urgency has to pick up. Rock, meet hard place.

 

3) Could they have a change of heart and actually re-sign here?

Sure, anything is possible. But you can file both under the “not likely” category.

Hellebuyck, like other American-born players before him such as Jacob Trouba and Andrew Copp, seems to have his heart set on playing closer to home. The Jets would love to keep their three-time Vezina nominee (and one-time winner) in the fold — and pay whatever the market bears — but it takes two to tango.

As for Scheifele, it’s a much more complicated situation. There’s a growing belief a change of scenery would be best for everyone. Scheifele just hasn’t seemed like the same player since his suspension for running Montreal’s Jake Evans in the 2021 bubble playoffs, especially when it comes to focus and commitment in his own end of the ice.

Patience has worn thin with three different coaches now, from Paul Maurice to Dave Lowry to Rick Bowness. Scheifele, who has long believed he was underpaid on his current contract, will be looking to cash in on the next deal. There’s a strong chance it will be somewhere other than Winnipeg.

 

4) There’s still the trade deadline, right?

Now we’re really talking risk.

Yes, the Jets could be out of a playoff spot and in sell mode, with several contenders driving up the price as they try to land what would surely be two of the best pieces available. Winnipeg did well with Copp to the New York Rangers in that situation in 2022, getting Morgan Barron and draft picks that turned out to be Brad Lambert and Elias Salomonsson in return.

What happens if Winnipeg is in a playoff spot, or at least fighting for one? Would Cheveldayoff really move two of his most valuable players in that situation, effectively waving the white flag? It would be quite the message sent, not only to a fanbase the organization has been trying to re-connect with this summer — in the form of an aggressive marketing and ticketing campaign — but also the remaining players on the roster.

There’s also the ever-present risk of injury. If Scheifele and/or Hellebuyck were to get hurt prior to getting dealt, that would represent a nightmare situation for everyone.

Danger! Danger!

 

5) How might this impact the coming year?

This could obviously turn into a distraction. Until there’s some finality, Jets coaches and players will likely be asked about it plenty, especially when they play in major media markets on the road.

All of which could grow really old, really quickly.

One positive for Winnipeg? Scheifele and Hellebuyck should be plenty motivated. Both are playing for their next contract, regardless of who that might be with. Expect both to bring their best, with plenty on the line.

If nothing else, perhaps there’s at least some short-term gain to be had for Winnipeg in that regard. With each day this saga drags on, the potential for long-term pain is increasing.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg