Connor Hellebuyck's Suspension Ends Friday With No Trade, and Insiders Expect Winnipeg to Pay Him to Stay Away

Connor Hellebuyck's suspension from the Winnipeg Jets ends Friday, Oct. 23, and as of the latest reports there was no trade. That leaves Winnipeg with three options: deal him, let him back into the dressing room or keep paying him while asking him to stay away. Two of hockey's best-sourced insiders, Elliotte Friedman and Darren Dreger, both said this week that they do not expect to see Hellebuyck back with the Jets, and ESPN reported that if a trade does not materialize, Winnipeg is likely to resume paying the goaltender while keeping him away from the team.

For fantasy managers, that means Stuart Skinner keeps the net for now, and anyone holding Hellebuyck should plan around a trade rather than a return.

How it got here

The Jets suspended Hellebuyck on Sept. 16 when he did not report to training camp, after a trade request he later made public. The suspension was tied to a collective bargaining agreement provision that calls for a reasonable length, and Friday is the end date.

Winnipeg prepared for every outcome. On Oct. 19, the Jets moved defenseman Josh Morrissey to injured reserve, recalled forward Brayden Yager from the AHL's Manitoba Moose and placed forward Walker Duehr on waivers, transactions widely read as clearing room in case Hellebuyck rejoined the roster.

The trade market

ESPN reported that at least three teams are in the mix. The Carolina Hurricanes have presented an updated offer, while the Buffalo Sabres and Utah Mammoth have taken a more patient approach. General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has reportedly not lowered his asking price, which is the main reason a deal has not come together.

Hellebuyck also controls part of the process. He holds a full no-movement clause, meaning he must approve any destination, and that clause becomes a modified no-trade clause next summer. The combination of a high asking price and a player-approved destination list has kept the market narrow.

Where the key pieces stand

Here is the state of the situation heading into Friday, from team and insider reporting.

Fantasy fallout: Skinner is the hold

Skinner has been solid in the role. He is 3-0-2 with a 2.76 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage in five games, and Winnipeg is 4-2-2 and in the playoff picture without Hellebuyck. General manager Cheveldayoff has said the Skinner signing was not made because of Hellebuyck's uncertain status, but in practice he is the starter. In fantasy, that makes Skinner a solid starting goaltender in most leagues for as long as the standoff lasts. His ratios are not elite, but a team that keeps winning will keep producing wins for him.

Hellebuyck himself is a hold in deep leagues and a judgment call in shallow ones. If he is traded to a contender, he becomes a weekly starter again almost immediately. If the Jets pay him to stay home, he could be off the ice for weeks.

What a trade would mean

A deal would reshape at least two goaltending situations. In Carolina, Brandon Bussi has been handling the crease, and a Hellebuyck acquisition would push the incumbent into a backup role and turn the Hurricanes into a strong source of goaltending wins. In Buffalo or Utah, the effect would be similar: Hellebuyck would take the starter's workload, and the current No. 1 would lose most of his fantasy value overnight.

For Winnipeg, a trade would lock Skinner in as the starter and likely bring back assets that change the forward or defense picture. Fantasy managers rostering a goalie on any of the three reported suitors should watch this situation every day.

What to watch over the weekend

The next few days will tell fantasy managers which direction this goes. A trade would likely come with a flurry of corresponding roster moves, including a goaltender heading back to Winnipeg or a backup being reassigned elsewhere. A pay-and-stay arrangement would be quieter, but the Jets would still need to clarify Hellebuyck's status on the roster, which would show up in their transactions.

Skinner's starts are the other indicator. If Winnipeg keeps riding him on consecutive nights, the club is signaling it is comfortable without Hellebuyck for the foreseeable future. If the Jets begin to lighten his workload or recall another goaltender, that could hint at a change in the crease. Either way, Skinner's managers should keep him in lineups until there is clear news.

The Verdexed angle

Markets price goaltending as much as anything in hockey, and the Jets' lines have been set all season with Skinner in net. A Hellebuyck return or trade would move prices for both Winnipeg and the receiving team quickly. For the model's view on Jets games, see the daily NHL picks pieces and the NHL predictions page.

What to do in your league

Start Skinner while the standoff continues. Hold Hellebuyck in leagues with deep benches, since a trade would restore his value quickly. Monitor Bussi and the starting goalies in Buffalo and Utah, and consider handcuffing if you roster one of them, because a deal would put their workloads at risk. Expect news to break quickly once Winnipeg decides how to handle Friday's deadline.