The general manager of the Winnipeg Jets says any trade for star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck must yield a worthwhile return because the team is “still trying to win.”
Kevin Cheveldayoff told reporters Thursday morning he’s been trying to facilitate a trade for a “long period of time,” but that nothing has come to fruition.
“The thought process of the team has always been to win. That has not changed, and also it’s the premise around the thought process of the trade,” he said.
“We are still trying to win, period.”
Hellebuyck, whose resume includes a U.S. Olympic gold medal, three Vezina awards and one Hart Trophy, publicly requested a trade from the team on Aug. 27. The team announced Wednesday night the goalie was suspended after not showing up to training camp.
“We’re talking about moving a player that has been very important to this franchise and is a very good player in the National Hockey League. We expect a level of return would be commensurate to that,” Cheveldayoff said.
“There has been nothing that has allowed us to say, ‘OK, this works for both parties, both teams.’”
In a statement posted on X by his agent, Ray Petkau, Hellebuyck’s said he had privately requested a trade “several months ago” and that he gave the organization time to address it “quietly and respectfully.”
“Winnipeg has been my home for my entire NHL career, and I will always be grateful for my time there,” Hellebuyck said. “I have never forgotten June 23, 2012. That’s the day Winnipeg took a chance on a goalie playing in Odessa, Texas. I gave everything I had from that moment to prove that the Jets made the right decision.”
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Cheveldayoff had said before June’s NHL draft that he was listening to offers for Hellebuyck. At the time, he did not confirm that the goaltender had asked to be traded.
While he continues to work out a trade, Cheveldayoff said “no doors are closed” for Hellebuyck should he want to return to the team.
“In my estimation, he’s a player that’s under contract and he’s a player that’s under contract for five years. But at the end of the day, that’ll be his choice,” he said.
— with files from The Canadian Press
A bad is as good as a good, as long as you know soon enough! Credit to Hellebyuck for being very honest at the end of last season; Helle gave Cheveldayoff ample time before the draft to be in a position that provided the most options for the Jets. Cheveldayoff sat on his hands, procrastinating again! So now it’s bad. Cheveldayoff let Carels slip away, like he let Jarvis slip away! Winnipeg needs a Kelly McCrimmon type GM, a GM that knows what he wants and goes out and gets it. Winnipeg needs players (WHL prairie boys) who are most likely to stay here for the long haul; not foreigners that get bigger stars in their eyes and walk away from Winnipeg: Fire Cheveldayoff is the only option left for the Jets!
Sit him until the end of his contract…don’t even dress him let him sit in the stands.
On helle GM should be fired as he outright lied to 55 and 37 saying he would get high end NHL CALIBRE PLAYERS and gets Nyquist and Toews and Henola is gone for nothing THIS OFF SEASON left unprotected after playing lights out for Sweden in a Gold medal win …FIRE CHEVY WE ARE SICK OF HIM AS JETS FANS AND LIKELY HELLE ALSO IS LEAVING because of a liar and snake chevy sucks last place GM
Agreed insufferable commercial ads
The amount of ads in your video posts make them unwatchable.