Insider drops Hellebuyck news that could seriously hurt the Jets as management takes a hit

The Jets suddenly have a Connor Hellebuyck question nobody wanted, three days before their season opener.

Frank Seravalli predicted Tuesday that the goaltender could sit out his age-33 season and forfeit $7 million. That's not a small rumour to drop in the final week of camp.

It's a massive swing for a team that leans on its crease. Winnipeg carries Hellebuyck at an $8,500,000 cap hit, tied with Thatcher Demko for the third-highest among NHL goalies.

Only Igor Shesterkin and Andrei Vasilevskiy cost more in goal. That's the tier the Jets are paying for.

So what happens if the net goes empty? Kevin Cheveldayoff, the GM since June 2011, would be staring at a hole no trade call fixes quickly.

In the clip, Seravalli puts a hard number on the idea, $7 million left on the table for one season away from the crease.

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Scott Arniel faces Jeremy Swayman and Boston with his crease in question

Scott Arniel opens Friday at home against Boston. Jeremy Swayman arrives on an $8,250,000 cap hit, so the goalie matchup was supposed to be the marquee.

The Jets aren't carrying momentum either. They dropped a 5-2 decision in Colorado last Friday and went 1-2-1 over their recent stretch.

Then comes a Sunday and Monday back-to-back in Detroit and Pittsburgh. Back-to-backs test goalie depth even when the starter is fully locked in.

Color me skeptical. Goalies don't take a year off at 33 and come back to a richer market, and $7 million is a steep price for leverage that may not exist.

It's like a pilot skipping a year of flight hours and expecting the captain's seat to be waiting when he gets back.

Kyle Connor, at $12,000,000, is the only Jet paid more. One of Winnipeg's two biggest investments suddenly has a question mark stamped on it.

Until Hellebuyck or the Jets address it directly, the prediction hangs over every practice in Winnipeg. And Boston shows up Friday either way.

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