The Winnipeg Jets are heading into training camp with most of their group on the ice and a few notable exceptions still hanging over the opening day picture.
By the final informal skate, the club had everyone available except Connor Hellebuyck and Walker Duehr, a sign that Winnipeg is set to begin camp with a roster that is largely healthy. Elias Salomonsson is still in the process of returning from shoulder surgery, but otherwise the Jets appear close to full strength as the formal work begins.
The team also put out its training camp rosters and on-ice schedule ahead of Thursday’s opener. That includes the Team A and Team B groups, plus the full camp calendar that runs through all four preseason games.
The biggest wrinkle remains Hellebuyck. Even though he is listed on the training camp roster, he is not expected to be at medicals on Wednesday and is likely to be suspended by the club for failing to report.
That situation is already being treated as the main story around camp. Winnipeg Free Press reported that a suspension for Hellebuyck is on the horizon as the preseason gets underway, and Wieber examined how long the standoff between the goalie and the Jets could last, including the possibility it reaches the regular season. The report also touched on Winnipeg’s goaltending options behind Stuart Skinner.
TSN’s Darren Dreger said he does not expect Hellebuyck to report for the start of training camp, adding that the Jets are likely to suspend him Wednesday or Thursday. Dreger also said trade interest has remained minimal since the draft.
Away from the Hellebuyck situation, NHL.com highlighted Matt Larke as he prepares for his new role with the Jets. Larke is stepping in as Winnipeg’s first full-time skills coach, and the piece focused on the work he plans to do with the players, along with his existing connection to Kyle Connor.
In Other News...
Connor Hellebuyck Standoff Is Becoming The Jets Biggest Camp Story
Training camp is opening with the Jets still waiting on Connor Hellebuyck, and that absence has quickly become the loudest storyline around the team. The star goaltender remains away from camp as trade interest in him has reportedly cooled since the draft, leaving Winnipeg in a holding pattern while the market around one of the NHLs most prominent netminders sorts itself out.
TSNs Darren Dreger and Sportsnets Elliotte Friedman have both touched on the slow-moving process, noting that offers have been limited and that finding a fit has not been simple. Even with several clubs mentioned in the conversation, the next step for Winnipeg remains unclear, which is why Hellebuycks situation is shaping up to define the early days of camp rather than fade into the background. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Camp Suddenly Has One Big Goalie Battle To Watch
Connor Hellebuycks absence from training camp has opened the door for a much different look in Winnipeg goal. With Stuart Skinner stepping in as the starter for the time being, the Jets suddenly have a real competition brewing behind him, and the focus has shifted to the depth chart as camp decisions start to take shape.
Thomas Milic, Domenic DiVincentiis, Isaac Poulter and Alex Worthington are all in the mix for the backup job, giving the Jets a chance to sort through a young group before the roster tightens. Milic and DiVincentiis have been the names to watch so far based on their recent showings, and Winnipeg could still decide to supplement the battle by exploring the waiver wire if it wants a more experienced option. [Read more 🡒]