Winnipeg Jets captain Adam Lowry told reporters Saturday that the air will need to be cleared if Connor Hellebuyck is to return to the team after his suspension ends.
Speaking to reporters following a narrow 3-2 loss to the defending champion Carolina Hurricanes, Lowry was asked about a report that indicated Hellebuyck’s suspension could end next Friday. He said there would need to be “conversations” should the star goaltender return to the Jets.
“He’s a good friend of mine. Do I love the decision? Do I love the way it’s dragged on? No. But we’ll handle the situation when it comes. Obviously we’re disappointed with the outcome, he’s one of the best goalies in the world,” Lowry said.
“It’s unfair to speculate on what’s going to happen between now until Friday. But I think if he does show up there’s going to have to be conversations, there’s going to have to be kind of one of those water under the bridge things. Like I said we keep moving forward, we’re a team regardless of who’s in the room.”
Lowry also pointed out that things could change between now and a potential return to Winnipeg for Hellebuyck.
“I think once we all find out more we’ll be able to comment more but I think it’s unfair to speculate one way or the other how it’s going to shake out. There’s still a lot of time between now and then so we’ll see,” he said.
Head coach Scott Arniel was less inclined to discuss Hellebuyck’s possible return.
“I really don’t care right now on that scenario. My focus is we got St. Louis coming up. I’ve got to do some review against Carolina, there’s some areas I want to fix. You know what, that part falls on [general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff],” the Jets’ bench boss said.
“I’m going to face that one when it happens, alright? I don’t know what next week is going to look like, and at the end of the day for me I got 23 guys, all they care about is winning hockey games. And so my preparation, my thoughts are on that.”
Hellebuyck requested a trade from the Jest over the summer and did not report to training camp last month. He was suspended without pay by the team and has forfeited nearly 10 per cent of his $7.5 million contract for the season as of Saturday evening.
TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger said on Thursday’s edition of Insider Trading that the Jets remain focused on trying to trade Hellebuyck. They’ve also been getting good goaltending to start the season, which continued Saturday as Clay Stevenson stopped 34 of 37 shots against the Hurricanes.
Stuart Skinner has also been solid in net for Winnipeg as he has a 2.76 goals-against average and a .906 stop rate so far this season in five games.
Hellebuyck is signed to a seven-year, $59 million contract that runs through the 2030-31 season at a cap hit of $8.5 million.