Hellebuyck May Find Out That the Jets Can Wait

An interesting little twist is developing in Winnipeg, and it has very little to do with whether Connor Hellebuyck is one of the NHL's best goaltenders. He is. But what happens when one of the best players at his position decides he no longer wants to play for his team?

According to reports, the NHL is watching the situation as Hellebuyck continues to sit out while the Winnipeg Jets look for a trade.

The league isn't stepping in to force a deal. That's up to the Jets and general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff. And Cheveldayoff has every right to wait for an offer that makes sense for his team. Hellebuyck can want a trade. The Jets can want a good return. Those two things don't necessarily fit together. And here's where the story gets more than a little interesting.

The Jets May Not Be in as Much of a Hurry as Hellebuyck Is.

Winnipeg has started the season well, and you only have to look at the box scores to see that Stuart Skinner and Clay Stevenson have done a respectable job filling the gap in goal. That's important in a lot of ways. If the Jets were losing every night and watching their season slip away, the pressure to resolve this situation would be enormous. But if they're winning, Cheveldayoff has a little more breathing room.

And that might change the conversation. Hellebuyck is an elite goalie. You don't casually replace a player of his ability. But even an elite player needs two willing parties to complete a trade. The Jets have to consider what they're giving up, what they're getting back, and what the move means for the rest of the team.

Hockey has a business side that can be uncomfortable to watch. Players have careers to think about, and teams have organizations to run. Neither side can simply assume the other will blink first.

Related: Stuart Skinner Might Be Ready for His Breakout Season

Has Hellebuyck Painted Himself Into a Corner?

Hellebuyck's decision to sit out also comes with a financial cost, according to reports. That adds another layer to an already difficult situation. I'm not going to pretend to know what's going through his mind. Maybe he believes sitting out is the only way to get the outcome he wants. Maybe the Jets believe patience gives them the best chance of getting a worthwhile return.

But both sides have a lesson here. Sometimes the person applying pressure discovers that the other side can afford to wait. And sometimes the team doing the waiting discovers that replacing a star, even temporarily, isn't quite as impossible as it first appeared.

I'm not suggesting Winnipeg is better off without Hellebuyck. That's a pretty big leap. But the Jets' early results have given them something valuable: time.

In Trade Negotiations Like This, the Leverage Can Change.

And in a trade negotiation, time can be leverage. For now, Winnipeg can wait. The question is how long either side is willing to wait. There is also the big “what if” that Skinner and Stevenson falter in a week or two. If that happens, the leverage will ebb and flow. Things could change quickly.

This situation is one worth watching.

Related: The Jets Just Gave Us a Clue About What Comes Next