The Winnipeg Jets may have dodged more than a contract dispute when they moved Connor Hellebuyck. According to Elliotte Friedman on the latest 32 Thoughts podcast, the club’s concern wasn’t just the stalemate itself - it was what might have happened if Hellebuyck had come back to Winnipeg and spoken freely to the media.
His suspension for missing training camp without permission ended Friday, which would have put the Jets back on the hook for his salary. Hellebuyck reportedly told the team he intended to return for a physical, and there was also talk that he planned to address reporters. Winnipeg apparently wanted no part of that scene.
Friedman said both sides had tried to keep things respectful during the holdout, but that tone could have gone sideways fast if Hellebuyck had opened up publicly. That risk only grew if he said something he couldn’t walk back. He also reported that Winnipeg’s leadership group met in Dallas as the situation progressed, while players around the team could sense that a resolution was coming.
Even after the trade, the possibility of a public airing of grievances hasn’t disappeared entirely. Hellebuyck has already hinted that he has plenty to say, though he said he was waiting for the Heritage Classic game to pass first.
Since arriving in New Jersey, he has only spoken briefly about the ordeal. Friedman suggested the Devils may eventually try to keep him focused on moving forward: “You’ve won.”
In Carolina, a different standoff finally ended with a contract in hand. The Hurricanes re-signed defenseman Alexander Nikishin to a one-year, $3 million deal after what had become a prolonged impasse that included a reported trade request.
Pierre LeBrun reported that Carolina had pushed for a one-year arrangement so both sides could revisit the situation next offseason. That setup also leaves Nikishin eligible for an offer sheet next summer. Frank Seravalli said, “Sounds like Nikishin’s camp came to terms with the fact that Carolina didn’t have a trade offer on the table they’d find acceptable; it was better to finally get playing again and worry about the future later.”
Nikishin, 25, was a third-round pick in 2020 and built his reputation as a productive KHL defenseman before joining the Hurricanes during their Stanley Cup championship run. Friedman also said Carolina nearly moved him to the New York Rangers this summer in a deal that could have included a couple of first-round picks, but the sides couldn’t line up on a contract.
Now the task is getting him back into game shape. Nikishin will need time to get up to speed before he returns to the lineup.
As for Montreal, Dylan Larkin is still a name to watch, but Friedman made it clear the Canadiens would have to work a very specific angle to get there. On the podcast, he said Montreal would need to “reverse engineer” a deal because the Canadiens are not currently on Larkin’s preferred list of destinations.
That would mean giving Detroit an offer strong enough to make general manager Shawn Horcoff go to Larkin and ask whether he would waive his no-trade clause for Montreal. Friedman noted that teams sometimes use a strong proposal to push a player to reconsider a destination, but even if the Red Wings accepted a deal, the forward would still have to approve it.
The Canadiens may think there’s a chance if their other options dry up. Friedman said Detroit’s visit to Montreal may have had an effect on Larkin, and the crowd chanting “We want Larkin!”
during the game might have left an impression. Even so, there’s no sign a move is close, and Larkin would have the final say.
In Other News...
Nick Suzukis Absence Suddenly Looks Bigger Than Canadiens Fans Hoped
Nick Suzukis absence has already stretched beyond the kind of brief scare Canadiens fans were hoping for, and now the captain will head back to Montreal after the Heritage Classic instead of staying with the club on its road trip. He is dealing with an upper-body injury and is working through recovery with the teams medical staff, a reminder that even as the Canadiens keep stacking wins without him, the lineup still feels different without their top center.
The timing makes the situation more uneasy because Suzukis latest setback does not appear to be a day-to-day issue, and the early signs suggest the Canadiens may need to manage without him for a while. His value to the team goes well beyond points, from puck management to faceoffs to the steady presence he provides in key moments, so Montreals ability to keep rolling will be tested if this absence extends into a longer stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Cole Caufield Just Gave Canadiens Fans A New Reason To Brag
Cole Caufield has already given Canadiens fans plenty to enjoy this season, and his latest postgame comment only added to the buzz. Coming out of the Heritage Classic, the young winger has been producing at a strong clip with 10 points in 11 games, and he also recently picked up the teams player of the game award. For a Montreal club trying to build momentum, Caufield has been one of the clearest bright spots.
The comment that really set things off came when Caufield described the Canadiens as Canadas favorite team, a line that quickly made the rounds on social media and even drew attention from ESPNs Greg Wyshynski. It was the kind of offhand remark that travels fast in Montreal, especially when the schedule is about to tighten again with games against the Blues and Stars on deck, and it left plenty of people reading a little deeper into what he meant. [Read more 🡒]
Slafkovsky Just Gave Canadiens Fans A New Officiating Grievance
Juraj Slafkovsky had the kind of postgame line that tends to stick with fans because it taps into a frustration they already know well. After the Heritage Classic, he said he will remember the night for Montreal not getting any power plays, and added that he would have liked the chance to experience one outdoors. For a Canadiens team that has already spent part of this season feeling aggrieved by some questionable calls, it was an easy remark for supporters to latch onto.
The irony, of course, is that Montreal still walked away with a win over Winnipeg, but the special setting did not come with the usual special-teams opportunity. Slafkovskys comment gave the game a second life beyond the scoreline, because it reinforced the sense that officiating has become part of the conversation around this club almost as often as the hockey itself. Even in a victory, the Canadiens found another reason for their fans to feel a little put upon. [Read more 🡒]