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Jets suspend Connor Hellebuyck for missing training camp

By Drooid · Sep 17, 2026, 2:26 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Hellebuyck Suspended

The Winnipeg Jets suspended goaltender Connor Hellebuyck for failing to report to training camp.
Hellebuyck publicly requested a trade on August 27, 2026 after a private request months earlier.
His seven-year, $8.5 million cap-hit contract runs through the 2030-31 season.
The suspension means he receives no pay and his salary does not count against the cap.

Summary

Jets Miss Playoffs

The Winnipeg Jets missed the playoffs, finishing the season 35-35-12.
The Jets entered training camp with six goaltenders, even though starter Connor Hellebuyck is absent.
Center Dylan Larkin requested a trade but will still report to camp.
Larkin suffered an upper-body injury in offseason training, limiting his early on-ice sessions.
Winnipeg opens preseason against the Edmonton Oilers and begins the regular season versus the Boston Bruins on 2 October.

History

Historical Context

The 2004–05 NHL lockout, triggered by the league’s salary-cap impasse, forced the entire 2004 season’s cancellation and left players without pay for months. The NHL, NHLPA, Commissioner Gary Bettman, and teams such as the Detroit Red Wings collectively lost an estimated $2.2 billion in revenue. Similarly, the Winnipeg Jets’ 2026 suspension of goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and Dylan Larkin’s trade requests echo those contract standoffs, jeopardizing roster stability. The precedent shows that unresolved disputes can erode fan attendance, depress league earnings, and compel owners to renegotiate collective-bargaining terms.

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Hellebuyck Suspended

The Winnipeg Jets suspended goaltender Connor Hellebuyck for failing to report to training camp.
Hellebuyck publicly requested a trade on August 27, 2026 after a private request months earlier.
His seven-year, $8.5 million cap-hit contract runs through the 2030-31 season.
The suspension means he receives no pay and his salary does not count against the cap.

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