For the goaltender, his absence is strictly related to his contractual situation with the Jets. The franchise decided to suspend its star without pay after he requested a trade and failed to report to training camp.

For Larkin, the reason he is unable to be with his teammates is related to his physical condition. The Red Wings placed their captain on injured reserve, meaning he will miss the first two games of the season with an upper-body injury.

What is Hellebuyck’s current situation?

Things between Connor Hellebuyck and the Winnipeg Jets have completely hit rock bottom. After making his trade request public over the summer, the three-time Vezina winner held out and refused to report to training camp, leading the Jets to officially suspend him.

Hellebuyck is reportedly pushing hard for a move back to a U.S. market, but despite five years remaining on his contract, both sides are stuck in a total standoff with no deal imminent. With the 2026-27 season kicking off, Winnipeg is rolling into their opener with Stuart Skinner in net while their superstar netminder waits at home for a trade package that satisfies the front office.

Larkin has yet to make his season debut

Dylan Larkin is currently sidelined with an upper-body injury that he suffered during an off-ice workout right before training camp started. It kept him out for all of preseason, and the Red Wings officially placed him on injured reserve, ruling him out for the first two games of the regular season against the Rangers and Jets.

Head coach Todd McLellan mentioned that he’s hoping Larkin can finally make his season debut in Game 3 on Tuesday, October 6, when Detroit hosts the Ottawa Senators—though his status will ultimately depend on how his recovery holds up over the next few days.

Key takeaways

• Connor Hellebuyck and Dylan Larkin will miss the game at Little Caesars Arena.
• Winnipeg suspended its star goalkeeper without pay after he requested a trade.
• Detroit placed its captain on injured reserve due to an upper-body injury.

Connor Hellebuyck is out for the Jets’ season opener against the Bruins as he’s currently suspended by the organization. After going public with his trade request from Winnipeg, Hellebuyck didn’t report to training camp ahead of the 2026-27 NHL campaign. As a result, the Jets responded with a suspension, which remains in place and only adds fuel to a smoking fire inside the organization.

“The Winnipeg Jets announced they have suspended goaltender Connor Hellebuyck for failure to report to training camp,” the Jets’ public relations (PR) account reported back on Sept. 16 on X. There hasn’t been a new announcement on Hellebuyck’s status since.

Hellebuyck’s contract situation

Things have turned ugly between Hellebuyck and the Jets, with neither side giving the other an inch. Signed to a seven-year, $59.5 million ($8.5 million AAV) extension, Hellebuyck has five years left on his contract in Winnipeg.

As many similarities as there are between Hellebuyck’s and Dylan Larkin’s trade requests, reports state the three-time Vezina Trophy winner doesn’t plan to exploit his full no-movement clause (NMC) as Larkin has.

Instead, Hellebuyck simply wants to leave Winnipeg—reportedly hoping to head out of Canada and back to the USA. Most importantly, Hellebuyck hopes to play as soon as possible. And that’s exactly where the Jets’ leverage is.

Hellebuyck, Jets remain in standoff

Goalies are creatures of habit, and being sidelined with no injury doesn’t do Hellebuyck any good. The Jets know that and are keeping him away from the lineup for that purpose, to tire him out—all in the name of accountability and protecting the rest of the team from being distracted.

It’s unclear what the future will bring for Hellebuyck and the Jets, but it’s clear that as long as he remains under contract while suspended and not playing in the 2026-27 NHL season, what little is left of their relationship will only be shredded to pieces.

Key takeaways

• Connor Hellebuyck is suspended for failing to report to Winnipeg’s training camp.
• He signed a seven-year, $59.5 million contract extension with five years remaining.
• The goaltender is hoping to leave Winnipeg and return to the USA.

Charlie McAvoy is not playing against the Jets because he is serving a six-game suspension to start the 2026-27 NHL regular season. McAvoy got the suspension because of a two-handed slash on Buffalo Sabres forward Zach Benson.

The action happened last season, in Game 6 of the First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 1, 2026. Given how that ended the Bruins’ season, McAvoy is just starting to serve his suspension now.

Why did McAvoy slashed Benson?

The Boston Bruins defenseman slashed Zach Benson in retaliation for being tripped and slew-footed into the boards during the final minutes of Game 6 in their playoff series.

McAvoy was quick to get on his feet and skated towards Benson at full force and proceded to slash him right in front of the referee. There was 1:31 remaining in the third period and the Sabres were leading 4-1. It was an all-time moment of frustration.

When will McAvoy return?

McAvoy won’t play against the Jets, but he still needs to serve five more games after that to be fully free of ban. Hence, his eligible return date is October 13, 2026, when the Bruins face the San Jose Sharks.

Key takeaways

• Charlie McAvoy is serving a six-game suspension to begin the 2026-27 season.
• The defenseman slashed Zach Benson in retaliation after being tripped and slew-footed.
• McAvoy is eligible to return October 13, 2026, against San Jose.

However, there’s a big difference, and perhaps the reason why Hellebuyck might be traded and Larkin may not, or at least why Hellebuyck could be shipped off faster or more smoothly from Winnipeg ahead of the 2026-27 NHL season. Both have five years left on their contracts and hold no-trade clauses. But while Larkin has only submitted a three-team trade list (Minnesota, Florida, and Vegas) for the Red Wings to work with, Hellebuyck is much more open-minded and willing to waive his NMC.

“It does and has continued to sound like [Hellebuyck is] a lot more open to different scenarios than some of the other guys like Dylan Larkin, which is why you’re hearing teams like Utah and San Jose [for Hellebuyck],” as stated by David Pagnotta on Jets at Noon.

The goaltender has learned the lesson. Being picky about his next club hasn’t done Larkin any good, he’s still in Detroit months after asking out, and fans in his home state have turned on him. Thus, Hellebuyck is reportedly going with a different strategy. Maybe it will help him reach his end goal—being traded—faster and without completely burning a bridge along the way.

Hellebuyck and Jets face less tension, but tense regardless

Hellebuyck going public with his trade request will come at a price for Winnipeg, which lost virtually all its leverage when the news broke. But still, Hellebuyck is giving the Jets a bit more leeway to explore the market and come away with the offer they feel is best. Larkin, on the other hand, hasn’t given Detroit that privilege, and there is little hope he will.

The Red Wings hold on to a sliver of hope that Larkin will walk back his trade request, but he isn’t budging for the time being. When all sides of the U.S. Olympians’ trade requests are put together, it’s clear to see Hellebuyck and the Jets are in a better place than Larkin and the Wings.

For starters, Detroit currently has no general manager in place, directionlessly wandering through a crucial stage of the NHL offseason and set to embark on a nerve-wracking stretch. In fact, a report reveals the Red Wings face an urgent timeline to hire a new GM amid Larkin’s situation.

Which teams could be in on Hellebuyck?

Long story short, about 25 of the 31 teams (not counting the Jets) in the NHL would love to land Hellebuyck. However, not every team is a good fit for him or can actually pull the trade off. That leaves the favorites: the Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, and New Jersey Devils.

Other teams to keep an eye on are the San Jose Sharks and Utah Mammoth, who are on a steady upward trend. A blockbuster move for arguably the best goalie in the NHL could be what puts them firmly in the conversation and opens their championship window.

Lastly, fans can’t overlook the usual suspects in the Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers. Both have some cap and roster dilemmas to figure out, but that rarely stops them from making moves.

Hellebuyck’s trade list has yet to be disclosed, but there may be no need for it. According to most reports around the NHL, the Buffalo Sabres have been linked to Hellebuyck for a while. Maybe now is the time a deal actually gets done. However, the Sabres aren’t alone, and there will be other teams all over the 33-year-old netminder, who is under contract through the 2030-31 NHL season.

Carrying a more-than-reasonable $8.5 million cap hit and with a maximum total salary of $10 million in the next five seasons, there are no salary-cap concerns around Hellebuyck. However, most of the teams being linked to him may have to work some magic in order to land the Michigan native. When there’s a will, there’s a way, though, and some of Hellebuyck’s potential suitors have a history of making moves even amid a cap crunch.

Potential suitors for Hellebuyck

Buffalo is the favorite. It possesses the prospects, draft picks, and, most importantly, the cap space to land Hellebuyck. However, with the goalie holding the key to his exit, it may not come down to who has the best offer.

The Sabres saw their magical 2025-26 campaign come to a crushing end, in part because they could never firmly establish their starting goaltender. Hellebuyck would solve that, not only for next season but for five straight years, and perhaps even longer.

In addition to the Sabres, other teams who could be all over Hellebuyck include: the Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, and Vegas Golden Knights. Let’s take a closer look at each of these Stanley Cup contenders, and why they could be Hellebuyck’s next destination.

Panthers could add yet another Infinity Stone

The Panthers have been favorites to land Hellebuyck ever since reports broke of the goalie’s frustration in Manitoba. What’s not to like about Florida? Playing for arguably the best team in the NHL when healthy, joining an undeniable Stanley Cup contender, reuniting with fellow Team USA teammates Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, and, to top it off, joining a franchise in a no-income-tax state.

From the Panthers’ standpoint, the main deterrent is that they just signed Jacob Markstrom to a two-year, $12 million contract ($6 million cap hit). They could always trade Markstrom to Winnipeg, but that would hinge on whether Markstrom hasn’t included the Jets on his 20-team no-trade list.

The Cats also have less than $35,000 available in cap space, which complicates a move for Hellebuyck. But that doesn’t feel like as big of an issue when they have Bill Zito working his craft behind the scenes. Adding Hellebuyck could be Florida’s best chance at replacing Sergei Bobrovsky and getting back to a Stanley Cup Final next year.

As for Hellebuyck, the Panthers may give him the best chance at winning a Stanley Cup in his NHL career while reuniting him with former head coach Paul Maurice. It just makes too much sense.

Hurricanes plus Hellebuyck: Back to back dream

In addition to the suspense around RFA defenseman Alexander Nikishin, the reigning Stanley Cup champions face a large, unavoidable question in net. Frederik Andersen left for the Edmonton Oilers, and although Brandon Bussi proved he can hold his ground, the Hurricanes are missing a bona fide elite goaltender to cruise their way through the flagging Metropolitan Division and be firing on all cylinders by the time the postseason starts.

Carolina has roughly $9.8 million available in cap space, via PuckPedia, so that won’t prevent it from going after Hellebuyck. In Raleigh, Hellebuyck could reunite with fellow Team USA member Jaccob Slavin. That seems to be a trend among the gold medalists who asked out of their organizations after the national team provided them with the long-yearned-for feeling of being on a championship team.

Lastly, the Hurricanes own three of their next four first-round picks in the NHL Draft, which could come in handy in negotiations with the Jets. Entering a new season, no team is more favored to win than the reigning champs, and judging by the fact that there have been two back-to-back champions since the turn of the decade, if Hellebuyck wants to win now, Carolina might be his safest bet.

Hellebuyck can become a Golden Knight

Falling just short of the Stanley Cup last season, Vegas isn’t going anywhere. Bruce Cassidy and John Tortorella are gone, Ryan Craig is now in charge, but these are still the same old Golden Knights. If there’s a big name out there making himself available, best believe they will be all over it—and especially a goaltender like Hellebuyck.

However, Vegas has a lot of hurdles in the way. The organization in Sin City is currently $8.6 million over the salary cap, but it could always gain some ground by making timely long-term injured reserve (LTIR) decisions. The Knights could also clear some space by moving Adin Hill, maybe in exchange for Hellebuyck while giving up something more. Hill carries a $6.25 million cap hit. As long as Winnipeg’s name isn’t written on his 10-team no-trade list, the deal could happen.

The Golden Knights can’t trade either of their first-round picks in 2027 and 2028, as both have already been dealt on conditional terms. All in all, the Knights face a steep climb to make a trade for Hellebuyck, with battles on several fronts. However, if there’s one thing an organization named the Vegas Golden Knights will never back down from, it’s a fight and a gamble. Making a move for Hellebuyck provides both in perfect measure, so expect the Knights to be a player at this table.

“Nothing official, but at this point it seems likely Jonathan Toews is retiring,” Darren Dreger reported on his X account about the three-time Stanley Cup champion with the Chicago Blackhawks.

If Toews indeed calls it a career and hangs up the skates after his one-year stint with the Winnipeg Jets, that would be another centerman removed from the NHL free-agent market. In a free-agent class that is shaping up to be one of the thinnest in recent years, the trade market continues to make its case as the preferred alternative for contenders in need of reinforcements.

NY Rangers will set steep price on Trocheck

If any team is missing a veteran center who can perform in the postseason, the Rangers have one signed through the 2028-29 NHL season at a more than reasonable cap hit of $5.6 million per year.

Of course, acquiring Trocheck would come at a cost, but New York is more than willing to sit down and negotiate. With every passing day, however—and with developments such as the rumors surrounding Toews’ retirement—the interest in Trocheck figures to increase.

It’s a basic law of economics. There’s only one Trocheck, but several teams are after him. When supply is low and demand is high, prices skyrocket, and it looks like Chris Drury and company have the belle of the ball in their hands.

Rangers will look at every offer on the table

Trocheck is indeed available, but it will take lengthy conversations with New York to get a deal done. In case teams haven’t visited the Big Apple before, they should know that nothing comes cheap—especially around Midtown Manhattan.

Drury and the Blueshirts need all the help they can get. In Trocheck, they have a golden goose that could very well land them the assets to put the organization back on its feet.

Needless to say, the Rangers will take their sweet time and listen to every single offer before agreeing to a trade. However, all signs suggest a move will ultimately happen, most likely before the 2026-27 NHL season gets underway.

Toews’ retirement remains unofficial

For the time being, Toews’ retirement remains only a report. However, where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire, and this might not be an exception. Toews came out of a two-year hiatus from the NHL when he joined the Jets for the 2025-26 season.

After dealing with injuries throughout much of his professional career, Toews managed to play all 82 games for his hometown club. Hoisting Lord Stanley one more time—or even making the Stanley Cup Playoffs—would have been sweet, but Toews still proved something, most importantly to himself: he still has it. Perhaps it was the perfect way to end a career in which he won it all, including three Stanley Cups, a Conn Smythe Trophy, and a Frank J. Selke Trophy.

If this is indeed the end of the road for Toews’ playing career in the NHL, he can truly say he’s seen it all. He would be going out on his own terms, rather than allowing his physical and mental health to cut his career short. Toews endured a lot, battled even harder, and got to live out his dream. Whether he retires or not, his legacy in the league remains untarnished.

Despite the absence of Miller, the Rangers have managed to put together several solid performances following the Olympic break. Mike Sullivan’s team has shown improvement giving fans some optimism about the direction of the roster as the regular season enters the final stretch.

At the same time, the reality of the standings still presents a major challenge as the NY Rangers remain significantly behind in the Eastern Conference playoff race and won’t fight for the Stanley Cup. That’s why speculation continues to grow around the roster, with trade rumors linking players like Vincent Trocheck and Adam Fox to potential moves in the offseason.

Is J.T. Miller playing tonight for Rangers vs Jets?

No. J.T. Miller will not play in today’s game between the New York Rangers and the Winnipeg Jets as he continues to recover from the upper body injury that led to his placement on injured reserve earlier this month.

Head coach Mike Sullivan addressed the situation while speaking to reporters, explaining that the team is still monitoring Miller’s progress before making any final decisions about his return to the lineup.

When asked about a possible comeback against the Wild on Saturday, Sullivan made it clear the Rangers are taking a cautious approach. “We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”

Fans in Pittsburgh have grown accustomed to Malkin’s style of play. The 39-year-old veteran plays with passion, but that can sometimes slip out of his control. Against the Jets, it definitely did, as Malkin delivered a vicious slash to defenseman Logan Stanley. Now, the NHL is responding with a severe punishment.

“Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for slashing Winnipeg’s Logan Stanley,” as announced by @NHLPlayerSafety on X (formerly Twitter).

No hearing

According to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the NHL and the Players’ Association (NHLPA), all fines over the $5,000 figure require a hearing with the Department of Player Safety.

As Malkin’s fine was just on the limit, he won’t have a hearing with the league, and will face no supplementary discipline. On that note, the Black and Yellow might have gotten away with one in a crucial stage of the NHL season.

As a result, Malkin will be available for the Penguins’ upcoming matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs on November 3. The visit to Scotiabank Arena in Hogtown will be the Pens’ last stop on their four-game road trip before returning to The Burgh.

Keeping up the pace

After a hot start to the 2025-26 NHL season, the Penguins are seemingly losing a step at the moment. Pittsburgh is in the midst of a six-game stretch against playoff teams from the past campaign. It’s time for the Pens to show their worth, and prove they belong at the top of the standings.

Up next, the Penguins will take on the Maple Leafs, Capitals, Devils, and Kings before boarding a transatlantic flight to Sweden for the 2025 NHL Global Series against the Nashville Predators (November 14-16).

Toews and the Jets have one quick stop to make before returning home to host Bedard and the Blackhawks in the 2025-26 NHL season. It won’t be as emotional for Toews as when he steps into the United Center in Chicago as a visitor for the first time in his career, but still, the veteran center is already preparing himself mentally to face the team he captained since he was 20.

Now, as Toews looks at the team in Chicago, there are less familiar faces on the ice, and mixed feelings invade the 37-year-old’s body. Looking ahead in the schedule, Toews is already anxious for the matchup with Bedard and company. On that note, he voiced a very sincere statement.

“I’ve been watching them a lot on TV and it’s strange. It does feel like a completely different team,” Toews admitted in dialogue with Mark Lazerus of The Athletic. “They’re just wearing the same jerseys.”

Liking what he sees

As Lazerus mentioned throughout his conversation, Toews slipped up and talked about “we” in multiple occasions when speaking of the Blackhawks. The three-time Stanley Cup-winning captain in Chicago is still acclimating to his new surroundings (even though they are in his hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba). Moreover, as he watches the Blackhawks on TV, he can’t help but root for their success. With Bedard leading the future, Toews is confident the Hawks are on the right path.

“They’ve been fun to watch. They have a lot of good, young talent. Now they have a good idea of where the team is headed,” Toews commented. “There’s no guarantees, but it looks like some of the young picks are going to turn into good players.”

Relatable

Toews’ journey with the Blackhawks shares plenty of similarities with that of Bedard and the current core in Chi-Town. Toews was selected third overall in 2006 and was quickly joined by Patrick Kane, the first overall pick in 2007. From the get-go, the duo carried a heavy weight, as the future of hockey in the City of Big Shoulders rested on their own.

It took some time, but thanks to their rapid development—Toews was named captain in 2008—and a supporting cast built for the biggest moments, the Blackhawks struck gold in 2010. Far from satisfied, they went on to hoist three Cups in six years, winning in 2010, 2013, and 2015.

Poetry in motion

Perhaps too big a shoe to fill, but fans in Chicago hope Bedard and Frank Nazar can lead the next great dynasty in the Second City. There’s poetry in every aspect of the upcoming Jets–Blackhawks showdown.

When Bedard and Toews face off for the first time in their careers on October 30, the 2023 first overall pick will come face to face with the figure many in his city expect him to become. As for Toews, he’ll face a squad full of youngsters whose inspiration to become Blackhawks came from him, Kane, and the Stanley Cup-winning rosters of the 2010s.

Kyle Connor can’t quite be compared with McDavid. Quite frankly, not many players in the NHL can. Still, the left-winger is a pivotal piece for the organization in Winnipeg. He’s definitely an asset the Jets have no interest losing next summer.

Coming off a career-high 97-point NHL season, Connor is now entering the final campaign of his seven-year, $50 million extension. Similarly to McDavid in Edmonton, he is set to play on a contract year. That is, of course, if he doesn’t put pen to paper on a new deal before the puck drops in October.

Don’t fix what isn’t broken

No team wants to see their best, established players head into a contract season without a new deal in place. The Jets are no exception. Thus, re-signing Connor is an urgent matter for the organization in The Peg. However, reports indicate talks have yet to take place between the two parties.

“Here we sit, Kyle Connor: getting close to the start of training camp, not all that different than McDavid,” Frank Seravalli stated on Insider Notebook. “I don’t think they’ve had much by way of extension talks.

“My understanding is that Connor’s camp is not in very much of a rush get something done and that they want to evaluate their options. I’m sure Jets fans don’t necessarily love the sound of that. Particularly after watching Nikolaj Ehlers walk out the door as a free agent.”

McDavid’s sweet spot

While the Oilers and McDavid have yet to formally engage in contract talks, the sentiment around the NHL is that it will all fall into place sooner rather than later. The fear of McDavid walking away next summer has mostly dissipated, or perhaps only morphed into a new one.

The question now is how long the Oilers will be able to retain their captain in Edmonton. On that note, Seravalli believes the forward’s camp might have found their sweet spot.

“[McDavid’s extension] could be anywhere from a two-year to an eight-year deal. I don’t think that they’ve ruled out eight,” Seravalli hinted. “Four years might be the sweet spot here.”

Winnipeg Jets star Kyle Connor was selected with the 17th overall pick in the 2015 NHL entry Draft and has never called any other franchise home. He never looked back, either. Winnipeg took him in, and he’s been comfortable in Manitoba since. However, that might change.

Connor is set to become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) after the 2025-26 NHL season. The left-winger’s seven-year, $50 million extension will be due next summer. The Jets have no reason to let him walk, but that isn’t stopping Kane’s Red Wings from showing interest. That is, if Kane is still in Motor City next season.

According to reports around the NHL, Connor and the Jets haven’t discussed the future, but things seem to be on track. Regardless, if matters were to turn south, Detroit is expected to make a bid for the 28-year-old born in Shelby Township, Michigan. It could be a great chance to revisit his days at the University of Michigan.

“Not any reason to panic, but a lot of people have been wondering if Kyle Connor does decide to go to market next summer, would the Detroit Red Wings be a fit for Kyle Connor? You could see the Michigan product going back,” Frank Seravalli said, via Insider Notebook. “I could certainly see that and he would seem to make a ton of sense for a Detroit Red Wings team that could use additional scoring punch.”

Don’t turn off the Jets, yet

While the lack of postseason success over his time in Winnipeg might be deflating for Connor, all signs indicate he enjoys playing at Canada Life Centre. At first glance, there doesn’t seem to be any alarms sounding nor indicators of caution going forward. Still, in the NHL anything can happen.

“Don’t count out the Jets,” Seravalli added. “They’ve had a good thing going. Obviously a tough playoff exit, but then leaving a lot to be desired, but Connor’s got to be part of that solution.“

It’s still early to tell, but if things keep their course the Jets better hope they are in a good place come March and the NHL trade deadline. If not, Connor’s days in The Peg might be numbered, and Kane’s Red Wings will most probably be among the frontrunners.