Elliotte Friedman reveals target date for Connor Hellebuyck trade

Speaking on the FAN Hockey Show, Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman described the mood inside the organization.

That message fits the approach general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has shown for months. Hellebuyck, who requested a trade and served a suspension without pay, has five years left on a contract carrying an $8.5 million cap hit, so Winnipeg faces no contractual pressure to rush.

Every day that passes without a deal, though, keeps a distraction hanging over a locker room that has already begun to move forward.

The Jets have also held up well without him. Stuart Skinner and Clay Stevenson have exceeded expectations in net, and Winnipeg has lost just once in regulation during the holdout, which weakens any urgency to accept a lopsided package.

For Hellebuyck, the waiting game is just as uncomfortable. Reports have suggested he could consider a return, yet the dressing room reportedly is not planning a warm welcome, which makes a resolution that much more urgent for everyone involved.

Reports have linked Buffalo, Carolina and Utah to Hellebuyck, and Winnipeg has consistently wanted immediate help in a deal rather than a pile of future assets.

Darren Dreger has said Cheveldayoff remains focused on a fair return, which explains why offers viewed as underwhelming keep getting turned away.

Friday may not be a hard deadline, but it marks a natural pressure point for a team that would love a clean slate. If a suitor is willing to meet Winnipeg's price, a deal could come together quickly.

If not, Friedman's read suggests the Jets are prepared to wait, accepting more awkward days rather than sign off on a trade they would regret for years.

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