NHL fans on social media reacted after reports emerged that the Winnipeg Jets and Connor Hellebuyck may delay his physical out of respect for this weekend’s NHL Heritage Classic.

According to NHL analyst Darren Dreger, there is a sense of a possible agreement between the two sides to push the physical to a later date so the focus can remain on the outdoor game.

“There’s a sense there could be an agreement between the Jets and Hellebuyck to delay his physical until a later date out of respect to the Heritage Classic. This weekend is about the game. Meanwhile, the focus to trade the star goalie remains. More coming up on @SportsCentre,” Dreger reported on X.

Connor Hellebuyck has been suspended for not reporting to training camp. For him to come off suspension, he normally needs to pass a team physical. By agreeing to delay it, both sides are essentially pausing that step.

One tweeted:

“I’m pretty sure by now everyone in the nhl hates the Jets. What a s****y organization….. treating a star player like sh*t and dragging him. Awful awful stuff. And Jets fans think it’s great.”

Another chimed in:

“Why would Hellebuyck do the Jets any favors at this point? They’ve been f*****g him over since the draft.”

Here are some of the other top reactions on X:

“Wouldn’t the opposite be smarter. Get the trade completed prior to the Classic??” a third fan wrote.

“See: Connor, you’re a distraction from the outdoor game,” one X user opined.

“I genuinely don’t understand why he’s still playing ball with them, but thanks,” another chimed in.

“They should delay it forever,” added another.

Analyst floats Connor Hellebuyck’s potential approach

Connor Hellebuyck’s suspension with the Winnipeg Jets is set to lift on Friday, bringing the long-running standoff to a decisive point.

The three-time Vezina winner requested a trade in late August and never reported to camp. Winnipeg suspended him without pay, and the two sides later agreed on a roughly three-week window that ends this week.

TSN analyst Bryan Hayes believes Hellebuyck could use his return as leverage.

“I get the impression that it’s a standoff now to the point where if Hellebuyck decides, ‘I’m showing up. I’m doing it to disrupt you, to force you to trade me.’ Like, that would be his stance, in my opinion,” Hayes said on OverDrive.

Once eligible again, Connor Hellebuyck’s $8.5 million salary returns to the Jets’ books. Winnipeg will then have to choose between putting him back in the lineup, paying him to stay away from the team, or finally moving him.

The Jets will face the Montreal Canadiens in the 2026 Heritage Classic on Sunday.

Edited by Abhishek Dilta