Quick Saturday Connor Hellebuyck update: There’s a lot going on here that we weren’t aware of.
According to multiple sources, Hellebuyck informed the Jets before their first game of the season (Oct. 2) of his intention to end his absence and report to the team. Since he did not have permission from the organization to stay away from training camp, Winnipeg had some additional power under the CBA.
Specifically, Article 15.13, subsection (c)(v), which reads: “If a Player who has not received permission to be absent from Training Camp returns to the Club, he shall be subject to a disciplinary suspension of reasonable length.”
The word “reasonable” is doing some heavy lifting here, but, according to those same sources, the end date for this suspension is Friday, Oct. 23. At that time, Hellebuyck would be able to rejoin the team. One possibility: the Jets pay him to stay at home.
I don’t think that’s what anyone wants — not Hellebuyck, not the Jets, not the players, not the fans — but that’s where we could be next week, barring a trade.
Neither Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff nor agent Ray Petkau would comment. More on this story as it develops, but that’s where we stand right now.
