Letting the malcontent masked elephant back in the room

CHICAGO — Buckle up, folks. The next plot twist in the ongoing soap opera between the Winnipeg Jets and Connor Hellebuyck could be a doozy.

Let’s start with a few cold, hard facts. Or, if you prefer: “Previously on As the Hellebuyck Turns…”

The franchise goaltender, with five years remaining on a contract extension he willingly signed with Winnipeg in 2023, refused to report to training camp last month as he awaits word on a trade request made at the end of last season. He’s the first NHL player in more than a quarter century to essentially go on strike.

The Jets are under no obligation to move Hellebuyck, but have indicated they would try to accommodate him if another team meets their needs. General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has made it clear he needs to “get this right” and wants a haul for a three-time Vezina Trophy winner and one-time Hart Trophy recipient.

The Jets — as was their right — officially suspended Hellebuyck on the evening of Sept. 16. Thursday marks Day 29 and counting. Although the 33-year-old Michigan product is technically still part of the organization, he doesn’t count against the 23-man roster or the salary cap.

Hellebuyck began losing money Sept. 29 when the NHL season began and players started getting paid. Based on his US$8.5-million salary, he’s kissing US$38,600 per day goodbye. Wednesday marks Day 16 without a paycheque, bringing his total losses to US$617,600 and counting.

If you want to watch those dollars disappear in real time, along with a Winnipeg-centric running tally of how the money could have been spent (such as the number of Slurpees or Fat Boys), check out the cheeky, fan-created website www.hellebucks.com.

Now that you’re properly refreshed, here’s a sneak peek at where the latest episode might be headed.

Many have assumed the only way this ends is with an eventual trade. The Jets remain in control of that outcome, perhaps with a little extra leverage these days. They’re off to a 4-1-1 start, new No. 1 Stuart Skinner has quickly become a fan favourite, and several NHL teams are dealing with a crisis in the crease because of injuries or poor play.

Advantage, Winnipeg?

Not so fast. Hellebuyck still has some power, and we’re not just talking about his full no-movement clause, which allows him to veto any trade and narrow the list of potential suitors.

No, he also has a rather sizable trump card to play, should he choose.

Cue the dramatic music and zoom in for the extreme close-up.

Hellebuyck could simply decide to end his holdout at any moment, hop on a plane and return to the organization that drafted him in the fifth round, 130th overall, in 2012.

The Free Press can confirm, through league sources, that the possibility of such a return grows with each passing day and each lost paycheque. What once seemed completely far-fetched could now be just around the corner, with no other resolution to this stalemate seemingly on the horizon.

Oh, what a tangled web that would weave. What happens then?

A tip of the cap to the good folks at PuckPedia, who know NHL contract law inside and out. They’ve noted that it may not be quite as simple as Hellebuyck strolling back into the dressing room, saying, “Hey guys, what’s up?” and immediately resuming his role as the team’s primary puckstopper.

The Jets could keep him sidelined, at least temporarily, should he do an about-face.

That’s where the lawyers would likely get involved — not to mention the league and the players’ union — as a rarely used section of the collective bargaining agreement could come into play.

Specifically, Article 15.13(c)(v) allows a team to impose a disciplinary suspension of “reasonable length” on a player who skips training camp without permission.

What constitutes a reasonable length? We may soon find out.

Another provision, Article 15.13(c)(ii), allows a team to keep a player suspended until he is deemed fit and ready to play. The Jets could invoke that clause first, arguing that after nearly a month of missed practices and game action, Hellebuyck wouldn’t be in shape.

For how long? We may soon find out.

Not surprisingly, nobody involved in this saga is willing to discuss it publicly. Not the Jets. Not Hellebuyck. Not his Steinbach-based agent Ray Petkau. A cone of silence has descended, even as the noise ramps up considerably behind the scenes.

But the audience is growing, and it extends well beyond Winnipeg. NHL general managers, agents and players are watching closely, curious to see how this unprecedented standoff ultimately plays out.

So far, the Jets have done an impressive job of preventing the situation from becoming a distraction. In fact, one could argue it has provided some extra motivation, following up some stinging words from Hellebuyck about the team last spring with stunning actions that suggest he no longer believes in what they’re trying to build here.

But it’s difficult to imagine everyone continuing to put on a brave face if Hellebuyck were to return given everything that has transpired. League sources have told the Free Press there would be plenty of pushback within the organization, including from players.

It’s hard to put water under a bridge that has been burned to the ground.

Jets forward Kyle Connor, a fellow Michigan native, U.S. Olympian and good friend of Hellebuyck’s, suggested as much in a candid recent interview. Jets head coach Scott Arniel was asked the other day whether the team had a plan should Hellebuyck return.

“Nope,” was his immediate answer.

To be crystal clear, Hellebuyck would be within his rights to return. He still has a contract, and the Jets would have to stickhandle their way through the situation beyond any additional suspension they might be able to impose which would only delay the inevitable.

Could such a scenario crank up the pressure on Cheveldayoff to accept the best offer on the table and sign off on a deal? You can bet Hellebuyck would be banking on it.

And if the offers are still deemed insufficient and Cheveldayoff won’t pull the trigger, the Jets would have an awkward roster problem to solve.

Do they waive Clay Stevenson — the intriguing new backup to Skinner whom they just acquired off waivers themselves? They would risk losing him to another team putting in a claim. If they keep Stevenson and opt to carry three goaltenders temporarily, a forward or defenceman would have to go to make space for the malcontent masked man.

Imagine how that would play in what has become a tight-knit room — one that appears to have taken this entire saga personally. Letting the elephant back in the room would test even the strongest resolve.

winnipegfreepress.com/mikemcintyre