Connor Hellebuyck is on track to rejoin the Winnipeg Jets on Friday, as his team-imposed suspension will be coming to an end.
And as the de facto deadline approaches, talk about a trade to the Colorado Avalanche could pick up again.
As notable insider Elliotte Friedman initially reported, Hellebuyck’s absence from the Jets is expected to end October 23. The three-time Vezina Trophy winner reportedly requested a trade in August. The actual situation wasn’t confirmed until Hellebuyck’s agent publicly acknowledged the rumors.
The star goalie then purportedly told Winnipeg of his intentions to return before the regular season began, the organization moved to suspend him under the provisions of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The Jets must now confront an uncomfortable possibility: Hellebuyck could become eligible to return without either side having resolved the situation. However, Winnipeg players don’t seem too happy about the situation, potentially creating pressure to trade the gold medal winner before he actually rejoins the team.
A trade before Friday would avoid that awkward reunion, potentially giving Winnipeg added incentive to find a deal.
That does not make October 23 an official trade deadline. But it gives the saga a new focal point, and Colorado is a team worth mentioning again.
Hellebuyck’s suspension could put pressure on the Jets to make a trade
It’s no secret that several teams have made their pitches to the Jets. The team most linked to Hellebuyck has been the Buffalo Sabres. The Eastern Conference club is still seen as the favorite to land the 33-year-old netminder, particularly after they came close to landing him in the run-up to the 2026 NHL Draft.
Colorado has already surfaced in the conversation. In July, Friedman said rival teams suspected the Avalanche had considered pursuing Hellebuyck, while acknowledging that he could not see an obvious way to make the deal work. Winnipeg also has little reason to strengthen a Central Division rival.
Still, a situation that drags on into the season could change the calculation. If the Jets cannot find a trade partner, they will have to decide whether bringing Hellebuyck back is realistic or whether continuing the standoff serves anyone.
The suspension ending is by no means a hard deadline. If anything, the Jets could just pay Hellebuyck and let him sit in the press box. Nevertheless, if Winnipeg becomes more motivated to move its franchise goalie, Colorado should at least do its due diligence.
Hellebuyck to Colorado is a longshot, but Blackwood has questions to answer
A Hellebuyck trade remains unlikely. The Avalanche already have MacKenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood holding down the fort. That’s why it might be a tough sell to include Hellebuyck, as good as he is, and his $8.5 million cap hit. Plus, the price in players and picks could be just as difficult to justify.
But Blackwood’s uneven start gives Colorado a reason to consider the possibility. Blackwood got off to a bit of a shaky start, posting a 3.30 goals-against average and an .867 save percentage in his first four games this season. The 29-year-old, nonetheless, seems to have rebounded, making 24 saves in a win over Dallas and stopping 29 shots against Pittsburgh.
Those recent performances offer reassurance, not proof that Colorado has nothing to improve. Blackwood is still the Avalanche’s established starter, and a handful of early-season struggles should not erase the value of his longer track record. Yet the team's championship window makes it reasonable to explore a substantial upgrade if one becomes available.
Hellebuyck would be a major one. The financial and trade costs may ultimately make the move impossible, but Colorado should not dismiss it without examining the options.
The Avalanche do not need to panic about their goaltending. They do need to be willing to improve it. If Winnipeg’s looming decision creates an opening for a goalie of Hellebuyck’s caliber, Colorado should at least find out what it would take.
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