Connor Hellebuyck’s suspension in Winnipeg is nearing its end, and that timetable could revive a trade conversation that has already brushed up against the Colorado Avalanche.
The Jets are expected to have Hellebuyck back on Friday, with his team-imposed suspension set to expire on October 23, according to Elliotte Friedman. The three-time Vezina Trophy winner reportedly asked for a trade in August, though the situation didn’t become public in full until Hellebuyck’s agent confirmed the rumors.
According to the source reporting, Hellebuyck later told Winnipeg he intended to return before the regular season started, and the organization responded by suspending him under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement. That leaves the Jets staring at an awkward possibility: their franchise goalie could become eligible again before the two sides have resolved anything.
There’s pressure building around that. Winnipeg players reportedly aren’t thrilled with how things have unfolded, and that could push the club to move Hellebuyck before he actually steps back into the room. If the Jets can line up a trade before Friday, they avoid that reunion entirely - and may have even more motivation to do so.
That doesn’t turn October 23 into a formal deadline. But it does give the situation a fresh point of focus, and Colorado is back in the discussion.
The Avalanche have already been mentioned in connection with Hellebuyck. In July, Friedman said rival teams believed Colorado had at least explored the idea of pursuing him, while also noting he could not see a clear path to making the deal work. Winnipeg, for its part, would have little incentive to help a Central Division rival load up.
Buffalo remains the team most closely linked to Hellebuyck. The Sabres are still viewed as the favorite to land the 33-year-old goalie, especially after they came close to getting him in the lead-up to the 2026 NHL Draft.
Still, if the standoff stretches into the season, the math can change. If Winnipeg keeps Hellebuyck and the situation drags on, the Jets will have to decide whether bringing him back is realistic or whether the split is already too far gone.
There’s also the obvious caveat: the suspension ending does not force Winnipeg’s hand. The Jets could simply keep paying Hellebuyck and leave him in the press box. Even so, if the organization becomes more determined to move him, Colorado would be wise to check the price.
A trade to Denver would still be a longshot. The Avalanche already have MacKenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood in the crease, and Hellebuyck’s $8.5 million cap hit would not make life any easier. The return package would be another hurdle.
But Blackwood’s start has been uneven enough to keep the door cracked open. He opened the season with a 3.30 goals-against average and an .867 save percentage over his first four games. Since then, the 29-year-old has steadied himself, making 24 saves in a win over Dallas and stopping 29 shots against Pittsburgh.
Those outings don’t erase the early numbers, but they do show why Colorado isn’t in panic mode. Blackwood remains the team’s starter, and a few shaky games don’t wipe out the value of a longer body of work. At the same time, a team with championship aspirations can’t ignore a chance to upgrade if one of the league’s elite goalies suddenly becomes available.
Hellebuyck would be exactly that. It may never get past the financial and roster costs. But if Winnipeg’s looming decision opens the door, the Avalanche should at least find out what it would take.
In Other News...
Dave Hakstol Just Gave Avalanche Fans A Fast Reminder
Dave Hakstol wasted no time making an impression in Tempe, picking up his first win as Arizona States head coach in a 5-4 victory over UMass Lowell not long after leaving the Avalanche. The Sun Devils grabbed an early lead and then had to hang on through a late push, a familiar sort of test for any coach settling into a new job, and Hakstols rsum gives Arizona State reason to believe it has a steady hand guiding the program.
For Colorado fans, his quick success is a useful reminder of the experience Hakstol is taking with him. He arrives with a coaching background that stretches across both the collegiate and NHL ranks, and even in a new setting, he has already shown the kind of structure and resilience that can show up fast on the scoreboard. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Suddenly Have A Depth Forward Problem They Cant Fix Yet
The Avalanches forward depth is getting tested before they even get on the plane for a two-game road trip to Philadelphia and New Jersey. Zachary LHeureux and Nic Roy will stay behind because of injuries and are listed as day-to-day, while Logan OConnor also wont travel as Colorado continues to manage his return after a long absence.
OConnors situation is a little different, since he is healthy but will remain in Denver to get up to speed and because of salary cap considerations tied to his long-term injured reserve status. It leaves Colorado in a tricky spot for a stretch that already asks plenty of its lineup, and it is the sort of roster puzzle that can tighten quickly if the injuries linger even a little longer. [Read more 🡒]
Lehkonens Hot Start Is Putting Real Pressure On Colorado
Artturi Lehkonen has opened the season in a way that has given the Avalanche another problem worth having. With six goals in eight games, he has put together the best start of his career while once again showing why Colorado has always valued him for more than just the score sheet. He has long been the sort of player who can tilt a game with timely offense and steady two-way work, and this early surge only strengthens the case that he belongs in the clubs long-term plans.
The timing matters because Lehkonens contract is set to expire, which adds another layer to what is already shaping up as a key decision for Colorado. The Avalanche know what he has meant in big moments before, especially in the playoffs, and now they are seeing him provide even more regular-season production than usual. When a player with that track record starts this hot, it tends to sharpen the conversation quickly, even if the final answer is still ahead. [Read more 🡒]