Story Summary
Two high-profile members of Team USA’s 2026 Olympic gold side remain at the centre of roster drama as NHL training camps open. Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has been suspended for not reporting to camp after, as Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff confirmed, requesting a trade; Hellebuyck’s request was initially kept private at his own request and later made public through his agent. In Detroit, former captain Dylan Larkin has requested a trade and has said he is not ready to explain his reasons, but he will miss the start of Red Wings camp with an upper-body injury sustained during off-ice training. Both situations remain unresolved as the pre-season nears.
Key Facts
- Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck did not report to the Jets’ training camp and has been suspended by the club.
- Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff confirmed Hellebuyck requested a trade after the season and that, at Hellebuyck’s request, the request was kept private initially.
- Hellebuyck later went public with his trade request through his agent; the Jets issued their own public response.
- Cheveldayoff told media the Jets will not trade Hellebuyck simply to accommodate him and expect a return commensurate with an elite NHL player.
- Cheveldayoff said reports of “terrible” trade offers were inaccurate and that the club has been seeking a resolution that works for both sides.
- Cheveldayoff described Hellebuyck as “family until he is not.”
- Dylan Larkin told media he asked for a trade at the end of the season and said he was unhappy the request went public.
- Dylan Larkin has requested a trade but will miss the start of Red Wings training camp because of an upper-body injury sustained during off-ice training; he has said he is not ready to discuss the reasons behind his decision and will keep conversations with the club private.
- Shawn Horcoff, the new interim general manager for the Detroit Red Wings, met with media on the day before Larkin’s comments; Larkin did not detail ongoing conversations with the Red Wings.
- The story references other roster situations from the same Olympic group, noting Zach Werenski and the Columbus Blue Jackets resolved their situation “for now.”
- The source includes upcoming NHL dates: Sept. 19 (pre-season begins), Sept. 29 (Regular Season Opening Night), Oct. 13 (all 32 teams play) and other 2026-27 schedule items.
IHM Discussion
These are distinct but overlapping dilemmas for two long-tenured franchise figures. Hellebuyck’s case is a conventional player-team standoff amplified by his status as the Jets’ long-standing starter: Cheveldayoff’s public insistence on a commensurate return underlines Winnipeg’s reluctance to weaken the roster merely to placate a departing player. That stance, combined with Hellebuyck’s decision not to report and the formal suspension, points to a potentially protracted process rather than an immediate resolution. The Jets’ insistence on receiving appropriate compensation for an elite goaltender is a negotiating posture likely to slow any deal until a team meets that valuation or circumstances change.
Larkin’s situation is quieter and more personal by comparison. He has requested a trade but will miss the start of Detroit’s camp with an upper-body injury sustained during off-ice training. He has declined to explain his motives beyond confirming the request came after the season and expressing frustration that it became public. With Shawn Horcoff installed as interim GM, the Red Wings have a new voice handling the matter; both Horcoff and Larkin have kept ongoing talks private, and Larkin has said he may never fully explain his decision. That degree of privacy leaves uncertainty about whether the request remains active and whether Detroit will seek to move him before or after the regular season begins.
Why It Matters
Both items matter for on-ice balance and team identity. Hellebuyck’s absence or departure would force Winnipeg to reshape its goaltending plan and could alter short-term competitiveness; the Jets’ insistence on a substantial return indicates they are weighing the cost of replacing a long-term starter. Larkin’s trade request affects leadership and forward-group construction for Detroit, while his upper-body injury adds another immediate consideration as camp opens. For the broader market, both cases can signal how teams value established leaders and elite goaltenders in this post-Olympic shake-up.
IHM Market Outlook
The market reaction will hinge on timing and valuation. With pre-season games scheduled to begin shortly, teams weighing offers for Hellebuyck must reconcile immediate needs (starting goaltending for 2026-27) with asset costs. Cheveldayoff’s public comments rejecting lowball offers suggest Winnipeg will hold out for a package that helps maintain competitiveness, reducing the chance of a quick deadline-style trade at a discount. For Detroit, Larkin’s privacy and the presence of a new interim GM may encourage quieter, measured talks rather than a headline-grabbing swap. In both cases, expect interest to persist but for moves to arrive only if a suitor meets clear valuation or if either player’s stance shifts under pre-season pressure.
Mini Q&A
Did Connor Hellebuyck request a trade?
Yes. Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff confirmed Hellebuyck requested a trade after the season, and the request was initially kept private at Hellebuyck’s request.
Is Hellebuyck at Winnipeg’s training camp?
No. Hellebuyck chose not to report to Winnipeg’s training camp and has been suspended by the club.
Did Hellebuyck make his trade request public?
Yes. Hellebuyck’s trade request was later made public through his agent, and the Jets responded publicly as well.
Are reports of poor trade offers for Hellebuyck accurate?
According to GM Kevin Cheveldayoff, reports that the Jets received terrible offers were inaccurate; the club says offers received were not commensurate with what they expect for an elite player.
Did Dylan Larkin ask for a trade?
Yes. Larkin told media he asked for a trade at the end of the season but said he was not ready to explain his reasons and was unhappy the request became public.
Is Dylan Larkin engaging with Detroit about his request?
Larkin has said conversations with Detroit are ongoing but private. He will miss the start of Red Wings training camp with an upper-body injury sustained during off-ice training, and he has not disclosed whether his trade request still stands.
Coach Mark Comment
From a coaching perspective, handling an absent starter or a requested trade by a former captain requires separating the short-term tactical response from long-term roster management. Practically, coaches must prepare backup plans for ice time, defensive structure and special teams while the front office resolves the roster status. Maintaining clarity for the dressing room is essential: players need to know who will take responsibility on game night, and coaches should focus on performance continuity irrespective of negotiation noise.
What Comes Next
The immediate checkpoints are clear: the NHL pre-season begins on Saturday, Sept. 19, and the regular season opens on Tuesday, Sept. 29. All 32 teams play on Oct. 13, while Winnipeg hosts Montreal in the NHL Heritage Classic on Oct. 25. Carolina and Seattle meet in Helsinki on Nov. 12 and 14, before Ottawa and Chicago play in Düsseldorf on Dec. 18 and 20. Utah hosts Colorado in the Winter Classic on Dec. 31.
IHM Final View
Both situations remain active and unsettled. Hellebuyck’s absence from camp and the Jets’ public posture point to a negotiation that prioritises return value over expediency, making a rapid trade unlikely unless a suitor meets Winnipeg’s valuation. Larkin’s decision to keep his reasons private, alongside his absence from the start of camp because of injury, leaves Detroit with an internally managed uncertainty. Expect this to be a story that develops through the pre-season and into the opening weeks of the regular season rather than producing an immediate headline trade.