Winnipeg Jets make an announcement regarding Connor Hellebuyck's suspension

The Jets suspended Hellebuyck on Sept. 16 after he skipped training camp. He had made his trade request public on Aug. 27, saying a move was the best path for him and his family.

Weeks later, the three-time Vezina Trophy winner remains a Jet, and general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has not found an offer he likes.

Once the suspension lapses, Hellebuyck's $8.5 million cap hit becomes a live issue again for a team that has found its footing without him. Winnipeg is 4-1-2, with Stuart Skinner handling most of the starts after signing in free agency on July 1. Clay Stevenson has backed him up.

That raises awkward questions. Does Hellebuyck actually report? Do the Jets welcome him back, or keep him away from the group while they shop him? Insiders have suggested the room would not exactly celebrate a return, which makes any reunion tricky.

The trade market is complicated too. Hellebuyck holds a full no-movement clause, so he must approve any destination, and he is reportedly unwilling to go to another Canadian team.

Buffalo, Utah, Carolina and Anaheim have all been linked to him, yet nothing has crossed the finish line.

Friday does not guarantee a resolution, but it does force one. A suspended player forfeits pay once the regular season begins, so the standoff has been costing Hellebuyck money, while the Jets have kept their leverage by winning without him.

Cheveldayoff has said he will not rush a deal, and his patience has been rewarded so far. Still, a goalie with an $8.5 million cap hit and a standing trade demand cannot sit in limbo forever.

The Jets must decide whether to let him return, reintegrate him slowly, or hold out for the package they want.

For now, all eyes turn to Friday, when the clock runs out and the next chapter of this saga begins.

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