Jets Fan Tracks Hellebuyck Salary Loss During Holdout

A fan-created website is tracking Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck’s lost salary during his 2026-27 holdout, showing the financial impact of his trade request after he missed training camp and was suspended by the team. The tracker was created by Calgary-based Jets supporter Robson Fletcher.

According to Hellebucks, Hellebuyck has forfeited more than US$399,000 as of Friday morning. His US$7.5 million salary costs him about US$38,660 for each day he remains away during the 194-day NHL regular season, according to figures cited by Yahoo Finance Canada.

The Winnipeg Jets suspended Hellebuyck in mid-September after he failed to report to camp. The three-time Vezina Trophy winner had requested a trade and has five years and US$42.5 million remaining on his contract, according to The Score.

Fletcher, who has followed the Jets since the original franchise era and built the tracker through his communications and data consultancy experience, explained the idea behind the website.

"I built it because I was kind of thinking about how much money he was giving up," Fletcher said.

The creator said the project was designed to present the lost salary in relatable terms while following the public reaction to Hellebuyck’s absence.

"It was meant to be funny, informative and just a little bit petty," Fletcher said.

Fletcher also addressed the reaction from Jets supporters who were frustrated by the trade request from a player who previously expressed a desire to remain with Winnipeg. He said fans may not know every factor behind the decision.

"That’s a personal decision for him, but I think what I and a lot of fans and Winnipeggers are feeling is the fact that when you sign a contract, you typically try to fulfill the contract. It wasn’t that long ago (that) he said he wanted to be a Jet for life," Fletcher said.

He added that some supporters felt disappointed by the situation, while acknowledging Hellebuyck may have reasons that are not public.

"I think that’s why a lot of folks are feeling a little burned by this, but I’m sure he’s got his own reasons that we’re probably not fully aware of," Fletcher said.

The tracker compares the forfeited money with everyday expenses, including housing costs and consumer items. Fletcher said the site received enough traffic that he moved from a free hosting arrangement to a paid plan costing US$5 per month.

"(The website) breaks it into more day-to-day terms, like how many Slurpees is that? Or how many months of rent," Fletcher said.

At one point, the tracker estimated the lost salary was equal to 388 months of rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Winnipeg with heat included, more than 3,700 lower-bowl Jets tickets, or over 230,000 Slurpees.

Fletcher said the figures help explain the scale of the dispute beyond the immediate hockey situation.

"This is real money that he’s giving up. And putting it in context, I think helps us understand what’s going on with not just with this situation, but professional sports in general right now," Fletcher said.

The website also displayed a message directed at Hellebuyck that reflected the frustration of some fans following his departure from team activities.

"We'd have built you a statue. Instead we built this counter," the Hellebucks website stated.

Hellebuyck has maintained his trade position during the standoff. A statement released by his agent Ray Petkau outlined his stance as the Jets continue evaluating the situation.

"My position has not changed," Hellebuyck said in a statement released by his agent, Ray Petkau.

The Jets opened the season without Hellebuyck and remained competitive early, posting a 3-0-1 record and sitting atop the Central Division, according to The Score.