Adam Lowry has been Connor Hellebuyck‘s teammate with the Winnipeg Jets since 2015, and spent the summer insisting the goaltender’s trade request wouldn’t split the group. Asked on Saturday night, after a 3-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, what happens if Hellebuyck walks back in this week, the captain’s tone had shifted.
“If he does show up, conversations are going to have to happen,” Lowry said.
He didn’t pretend to be pleased about any of it.
“He’s a good friend of mine. Do I love the decision, do I love the way it’s dragged on? No,” Lowry said. “But we’ll handle the situation when it comes. It’s unfair to speculate on what’s going to happen between now and Friday.”
Pressed further, he pushed it upstairs, using the nickname by which general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff is universally known in Winnipeg.
“I really don’t care right now on that scenario. That part falls on Chevy. I’m going to face that when it happens,” Lowry said. “I don’t know what next week is going to look like. I’ve got 23 guys, all they care about is winning hockey games.”
When does Connor Hellebuyck’s suspension end?
The collective bargaining agreement allows a club to suspend a player for a “reasonable length” of time for missing the preseason, and according to Elliotte Friedman, that window has nearly run out. Winnipeg has to lift it on Friday, October 23.
Hellebuyck has forfeited more than $721,000 in salary so far. Friedman also noted that even once he’s back on the roster, he could choose to stay home until the trade request is finally resolved.
Lowry isn’t the only one who has set out terms. Kyle Connor said during training camp that if Hellebuyck wanted to come back, he had better be there to help the team win.
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The clock is now doing what months of negotiation couldn’t. Chad DeDominicis of Expected Buffalo reported that the Sabres have re-engaged in trade discussions with Winnipeg, having been unable to agree a return at the draft when the Jets asked for the fourth overall pick.
Hellebuyck, who has played his entire career in Winnipeg, is signed through 2030-31 at an $8.5 million cap hit.
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