The Winnipeg Jets don’t sound in any hurry to force the Connor Hellebuyck issue, and Craig Button says they shouldn’t be.
Asked on the Jay Onrait show how long the situation can spill into the season, Button said it will last “as long as it takes for a good deal to present itself, and Kevin Cheveldayoff to act.” He pushed back on the idea that the Jets GM is being stubborn for the sake of it, framing the delay as a deliberate choice tied to what the team needs.
For Button, this isn’t only about squeezing out the best return for Hellebuyck. It’s also about the message Cheveldayoff sends to the rest of the roster.
“It’s a message you send to the market. It’s a message you send to (Mark) Scheifele and (Josh) Morrissey and (Adam) Lowry and Kyle Connor and the other key players on their team.
That when Kevin says we’re serious about competing for a Cup, I’m not getting prospects that might help us in five years’ time. I’m not getting draft picks.
We’re doing it right now. And when that time presents itself, I know this about Kevin: the deal will be made.
Not one second before, nor should it be made one second before, just to get a deal done.”
Elsewhere, Simon Edvinsson’s contract situation in Detroit has taken another turn. Max Bultman reported that the Red Wings’ RFA defenseman no longer has a locker in the team dressing room and did not practice yesterday.
Wings interim GM Shawn Horcoff addressed it in a statement: “As of today, Simon is not practicing with the team. The organization will continue conversations with Simon and his representatives.”
Steve Werier noted that a long delay in signing Edvinsson could create downstream cap benefits for Detroit, though he added that surely isn’t the goal. He pointed out that if Edvinsson signs Nov. 1 for 9Mx5, the cap hit in years 2-5 could fall to 8.7M, depending on SB $, while the 26-27 hit would rise to 10.32M, “but the trade-off is a W.”
In Other News...
Jets Just Addressed A Growing Goalie Problem Behind Hellebuyck
Connor Hellebuycks trade request and absence from training camp have left Winnipeg in need of some stability in net, and the club moved quickly to add another layer of depth. The Jets claimed Clay Stevenson off waivers from the Washington Capitals, giving them an experienced stopgap as they sort through the goalie picture behind their starter and keep their younger options on a longer developmental track in the AHL.
Stevenson brings a little organizational familiarity from his years in the Capitals system, along with a few NHL games on his rsum, which makes him a useful patch for a situation that has grown more complicated than the Jets would like. Washington had expected to lose him and has other goaltending options in its AHL pipeline, but for Winnipeg the bigger issue is making sure the depth chart holds together while the camp uncertainty around Hellebuyck lingers. [Read more 🡒]
Capitals Just Lost Goalie Depth At The Worst Time
Winnipeg added another name to its goaltending mix by claiming Clay Stevenson off waivers from Washington, a move that gives the Jets a bit more organizational depth in net as the offseason continues to unfold. Stevenson spent parts of last season with the Capitals and their AHL affiliate in Hershey, and he arrives with one year left on his deal, a short-term addition with some longer-range implications for a club always keeping an eye on the crease.
For Washington, the timing is what stings, because losing a goalie option now can complicate the picture as camps and roster decisions inch closer. For Winnipeg, Stevensons path suggests a real chance to factor at the NHL level right away next season, and his contract status means the Jets will get a look before he can test the market as an unrestricted free agent after 2026-27. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Still Face One Tense Decision Before Opening Night
With opening night creeping closer, the Jets are still juggling the last pieces of their roster after placing two players on waivers earlier in the day. The club has one more move to make before the 4 p.m. CT deadline, and the current count leaves Winnipeg with 24 healthy players as the front office tries to settle the group that will carry into the season.
The lingering questions now center on the waiver wire, where Winnipeg could still be in the mix for a goalie if one becomes available. The status of Danny Zhilkin and Henry Thrun also remains unresolved, adding another layer to a day that has already featured one notable departure, with Logan Stanley landing a one-year deal with the New York Islanders after an extended run in free agency. [Read more 🡒]