Connor Hellebuyck could be headed back to Scott Arniel's Winnipeg Jets, even with his trade request unresolved and tensions still hanging over the crease.
Elliotte Friedman reported Monday that talk of a return is growing. That's a major shift for a goalie who has stayed away while Winnipeg searches for an acceptable trade.
The issue isn't whether Hellebuyck can handle the workload. It's whether putting him back in that locker room would make a difficult situation even harder for everyone involved.
"There's starting to become a lot of talk about Hellebuyck potentially coming back," revealed Friedman on the 32 Thoughts podcast.
That puts Arniel in a delicate position. A coach trying to establish rhythm early in the season could suddenly have to reintegrate his franchise goaltender under extraordinary circumstances.
And there is no indication that a return would end Hellebuyck's desire to leave. He could be available for games while the trade conversation remains alive.
Connor Hellebuyck faces a difficult contract reality
The financial stakes matter too. Hellebuyck carries an $8,500,000 cap hit, and staying away carries consequences that extend far beyond an awkward opening to the season.
Friedman raised the possibility that a prolonged absence could leave Hellebuyck with no practical route except returning to the team he wants to leave.
"I don't think anybody involved here wants that," said Friedman. "I don't think Hellebuyck wants that, I don't think the Jets want that, I don't think the Jets players want that, I don't think the Jets fans want that."
The Alexei Yashin dispute offers a warning. After the former Ottawa Senators forward sat out the 1999-2000 season, an arbitrator ruled his contract obligation had not disappeared.
That precedent doesn't guarantee the same outcome here, but it shows why a full-season absence may not solve Hellebuyck's contract problem.
"It's just that if this drags on, eventually he may have no choice," said Friedman of Hellebuyck's potential return to the Jets.
The other challenge is the reception in Winnipeg. A goalie returning after demanding a trade wouldn't be walking into the same atmosphere he left behind.
The Jets also need stability in net. Bringing Hellebuyck back could strengthen their options immediately, even if the questions surrounding his future follow every start.
For now, there is no announced return and no completed trade. But Winnipeg may soon face the uncomfortable choice of dressing a star who still wants out.
Should the Winnipeg Jets welcome Connor Hellebuyck back despite his trade demand?
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