Jets could trade Connor Hellebuyck as soon as today, reports TSN's Darren Dreger

Connor Hellebuyck trade talks are escalating Friday morning, and the Jets could have a deal done before the day is out.

Darren Dreger called it a twist in the plot. He also warned that a busy day was developing, and Pierre LeBrun reposted the update.

Less than a day earlier, Dreger floated a very different timeline. He sensed the Jets and their goaltender could agree to delay his physical until a later date.

The reason was the Heritage Classic. Dreger wrote that this weekend is about the game, while the focus on trading the star goalie remains.

So much for letting the weekend breathe.

The timing is brutal for a club sitting 19th overall at 4-3-3. Winnipeg is sixth in its division, and Sunday brings a home date with the Canadiens.

Last night's overtime loss in Dallas stretched the skid to four straight. Two of those went past regulation, and the Jets still came away with nothing better than a single point each time.

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Stuart Skinner owns the Winnipeg crease while the trade clock ticks

Here's the part that makes this saga strange. Stuart Skinner and Clay Stevenson have split all 10 games this season, with Skinner taking seven of them.

He's been fine, nothing more. His .912 save percentage won't scare anyone, but he stopped 35 of 38 shots against the Stars and still went home empty.

Stevenson has been shakier. He's posting an .893 save percentage across his three appearances, with one win to show for it.

But goaltending isn't what sank this team over the last week. Winnipeg scored 8 goals across the four-game slide, and that won't win you much in the Central.

Kyle Connor is dragging the offense almost by himself with 9 goals. Cole Perfetti has 6, and he's the only other skater on the roster with more than three.

The blue line is thinner than it should be, too. Josh Morrissey is on IR with a wrist injury and isn't expected back until at least Nov. 1.

Moving Hellebuyck would clear an $8,500,000 cap hit, the fourth-highest among NHL goalies. That's real room for a front office this determined to move him.

And this is where Kevin Cheveldayoff is making a mistake. Selling a star goalie during a four-game skid is like listing your house the week the basement floods.

Every buyer on the other end of the phone knows the Jets are motivated. They'll price that desperation right into the offer.

So what does Scott Arniel tell his locker room on Sunday if the deal is done before puck drop?

Dreger promised more on SportsCentre. Florida visits two days after Montreal, and nobody in that dressing room knows yet what the franchise looks like by then.

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