Clock ticking on Jets’ Cheveldayoff to resolve Hellebuyck situation

WINNIPEG — Cramped at a small table inside a tiny room at the Hockey for All Centre on Thursday, Kevin Cheveldayoff faced a wall of TV cameras and reporters, looking exactly like someone boxed into a corner.

He preached patience. He preached process. He tried to sell the idea of a unified family — minus one, of course. It was a familiar script, only this time even harder to believe.

In other words, it was classic Cheveldayoff: stay the course, trust the leaders in the room and protect the status quo.

By now, you've probably heard that the Winnipeg Jets suspended goaltender Connor Hellebuyck for refusing to report to training camp. It's what we all expected to happen, even if there was still a surreal feeling when the Jets made it official with a social media post Wednesday night, hours after Hellebuyck no-showed for his physical.

Suspending Hellebuyck for missing training camp isn't just a procedural move. It marks both the end of a loving relationship and the continuation of a nasty, ugly breakup, one that started with an exit-interview trade request in April, dragged through the entire summer, and exploded into public view late last month when the two sides hit an impasse.

So, rather than suiting up for a 12th season in Winnipeg, the 33-year-old, three-time Vezina and Hart Trophy winner — who also has five years remaining on a seven-year, $59.5-million contract and a full no-move clause — is sitting at home waiting for a new hockey home.

The Jets are operating in uncharted territory, even if they've faced a similar situation before with the likes of Jacob Trouba, Patrick Laine and Pierre-Luc Dubois. This one feels different because it is, and despite Hellebuyck being the best player among the bunch, he is almost surely to fetch the lowest return.

For Cheveldayoff, the clock is ticking. But he's moving at his own pace.

"This isn't necessarily a time thing," Chevaldayoff told me when I asked how long he was willing to play this out. "My obligation is to the Winnipeg Jets, the Winnipeg Jets players and the Winnipeg Jets fans… I just want to get this right."

He then doubled down on the organization's belief that better days are ahead, despite only months removed from a season the Jets finished seventh in their own division and 26th across the league.

Cheveldayoff scoffed at the idea of taking back future assets or draft picks in a trade, claiming it would send the wrong message to the veterans who committed to winning in Winnipeg. That's really the crutch of all this, as Cheveldayoff can't afford to move backwards, lest he risk finding another defector.

"If it's future assets that are going to be picked how many years into the future, that's not the message that I'm sending to Kyle Connor , Mark Scheifele , Josh Morrissey, Dylan Samberg," Cheveldayoff said.

If the Jets are to push for a playoff spot this season, they're going to need a minor miracle, but also their veteran core to step up.