Connor Hellebuyck's 'Indefinite' Suspension Ends Friday Because The Jets Actually Like Winning
Elliotte Friedman reported the suspension ends Friday.
Elliotte Friedman just dropped the word that ’s team-issued suspension is officially ending this Friday. The slapped their franchise goaltender with an "indefinite" ban back on September 28, which apparently translates to exactly nineteen days in NHL front-office math.
Calling a three-week timeout an indefinite suspension is objectively hilarious. That is not a disciplinary measure, that is just a guy taking a European vacation and forgetting to tell his boss until he was already at the airport.
For context, the Jets are not just welcoming back a warm body to stand in the crease. Hellebuyck is the reigning Vezina and Hart Trophy winner who casually posted 47 wins, a 2.00 goals-against average, and eight shutouts last season. You do not keep a guy with that resume in the press box for long unless you actively hate winning hockey games.
This sudden reinstatement completely flips the board for anyone trying to read the market. Fading the while their superstar goalie was in the timeout corner was a logical play, but the odds are going to snap back to reality the second number 37 skates out for warmups.
The real test comes Friday when Hellebuyck actually gets back into the rotation. Whether this was a contract standoff, a locker room issue, or just pure weirdness, the need their MVP back in form immediately if they want to survive the Western Conference gauntlet.