A suspension in Winnipeg has suddenly given the Colorado Avalanche a new angle in their reported chase of Connor Hellebuyck.
The Jets announced Wednesday night that the 33-year-old goalie had been suspended for failing to report to training camp. Elliotte Friedman reported that Hellebuyck had already told the team he would not be there and had until Wednesday afternoon to report on time. Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff is expected to speak with the media Thursday morning.
The move matters because it escalates a situation that had already been simmering. Failing to report to camp is technically grounds for contract termination, and while that remains unlikely, it is now part of the conversation. If Winnipeg wanted to turn up the pressure, it could at least put that possibility in front of Hellebuyck.
For Colorado, that is where things get interesting. A contract termination would be the cleanest outcome from the Avalanche’s perspective, because Joe Sakic would not need to send anyone back in a trade. The challenge would be fitting Hellebuyck’s next deal under the cap.
Still, the more likely path may simply be that the standoff pushes both sides toward a resolution. The suspension gives the Jets another lever, since the team can withhold payment because of the breach of contract. That could make Winnipeg even more motivated to get something done sooner rather than later.
At the same time, a termination would also work in Hellebuyck’s favor, giving him a direct way out of the current situation. But if the rumors around Colorado are accurate, the Avalanche could be waiting to pounce with an offer that makes sense - maybe even a one-year deal for something like $5 million, or whatever number would make the move possible.
However it plays out, the pressure is on in Winnipeg now, and that could be the opening Colorado has been hoping for. If the pieces start moving in the coming days or weeks, the Avalanche may have a shot at landing the NHL’s best goalie at a discounted rate.
In Other News...
MacKinnon Sends A Clear Message As Avalanche Face Bednar Pressure
Nathan MacKinnon made it clear he is not interested in turning Jared Bednar into the fall guy for Colorados latest playoff disappointment. Instead, the Avalanche star pointed to the Carolina Hurricanes as proof that a team can stay committed to its path and still find the right breakthrough, even after plenty of hard postseason lessons. For a club that has spent years trying to stay among the leagues elite, that kind of public backing matters, especially when the noise around the coach starts to grow.
Bednar, for his part, is not pretending nothing needs to change. He has said he plans to evolve his approach by leaning more into player development and spending less time on opponent-specific preparation, a sign he knows Colorado has to sharpen the parts of its game that matter most in May and beyond. The message from both sides is fairly simple: keep the foundation intact, make the necessary adjustments and avoid overreacting to a postseason that did not end the way the Avalanche wanted. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Face A Roster Squeeze They May Not Escape Cleanly
The Avalanche are headed into a tricky part of the calendar with six players needing to clear waivers for the first time this season, and that alone puts some pressure on how they sort out the roster. Colorado has to weigh not just who fits right now, but who can be safely moved between the NHL and AHL without losing an asset for nothing, a calculation that gets harder when depth is part of the team's identity.
A few of those players look more likely to end up in the minors, while others carry enough value or uncertainty that they could draw interest if exposed. With contract status, prior waiver history and the clubs current depth all factoring into the decision, this is the kind of roster squeeze that can force a tough call even before opening night settles everything else. [Read more 🡒]
Cale Makars Camp Absence Creates An Early Avalanche Defense Concern
The Avalanche are heading into camp with a familiar reminder of how quickly the blue line can change when Cale Makar is not fully available. Jared Bednar said the defenseman is unlikely to be on the ice right away because of a lower-body injury, though Makar has been on a lighter training program and is expected back before camp wraps up. For a team that leans so heavily on its No. 1 defenseman, even a short absence makes the opening days of camp worth watching a little more closely.
There is at least some encouraging context here for Colorado. Bednar indicated the issue is not related to the upper-body injury Makar dealt with in last seasons playoffs, which helps separate this from anything more ominous on the injury front. Still, when a player of Makars importance starts training camp from the sideline, it creates an early test for the Avalanches defensive depth and a small dose of uncertainty the staff would rather not have this time of year. [Read more 🡒]