Michael Wilbon has never been the biggest hockey guy, but he had a huge opinion about Connor Hellebuyck going public with a recent trade request from the Winnipeg Jets.
Hellebuyck privately requested to be dealt “several months ago,” but after the Jets weren’t able to make a move, the three-time Vezina Trophy-winner announced his trade request in a social media post published by his agent on Thursday. The goaltender signed a seven-year, $59.5 million contract extension with Winnipeg on Oct. 9, 2023. The deal began during the 2024-25 season and has five years remaining, ending when Hellebuyck will be 38.
Wilbon responded to Hellebuyck’s demand in an episode of Pardon The Interruption.
“Basically, he’s saying, ‘Oh, we need better players.’ Well, then be one of them, dude. Then be better,” Wilbon started. “They gave you the security you wanted, the money you wanted. They rewarded you. You signed the deal. Can you not count from three to eight (sic)? You don’t know what that is? Unbelievable.”
Wilbon continued, “I would call him in. I’d call him and his agent, and I’d say, ‘You know, we love you. We signed you to this deal. You want a trade? Go to hell. We’re not trading you unless…’
“The thing I would do now is if I was old and crotchety, felt like get off my lawn, I would trade him to whatever outpost I could. I would trade him to… You know, if he could be relegated, I would do that. That’s about the only thing I would do for Hellebuck. The nerve. You signed this deal that gave you everything you wanted, and now you want out because you’re not good enough? Please.”
It’s the go to hell, for me.
Wilbon’s argument here isn’t novel; ultimately, he’s saying if you sign a contract, you are beholden to fulfilling the terms of it with the team that you signed with. You can’t wiggle out of it because things got tough.
But it’s how forceful Wilbon made his comments — and how unused to all of us are to someone arguing the team’s rights that feels a bit foreign. Most NHL general managers share the philosophy that if a player wants out, then the team’s better off moving on without them.
It’s not that simple, though, especially when you’re dealing with a superstar like Hellebuyck. With his trade request public, it becomes even more difficult to get the same value back from an opposing team. And after years of the Jets contending, Hellebuyck’s exit could see the team spiral and fans both tuning out and losing hope.
If you were Jets management, would you acquiesce to Hellebuyck’s request?
