The questions facing the Winnipeg Jets heading into this season, the Blues name a new captain, Panthers winger Brad Marchand trolls Senators center Tim Stutzle, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: What will happen to goaltender Connor Hellebuyck after he publicly revealed his trade request is the top question facing the Winnipeg Jets entering the 2026-27 season.

Hellebuyck, 33, raised eyebrows with end-of-season comments expressing disappointment about his performance and that of his teammates after the Jets missed the playoffs. He’s spent his entire 11-season career with the Jets, who will need a substantial return if they decide to trade him.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With training camp two weeks away, there’s speculation suggesting Hellebuyck could refuse to report until he’s traded. Doing so would be a considered breach of contract, allowing the Jets to suspend him without pay, fine him, and toll his contract forward if he sits out the season.

General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff could avoid this by shipping Hellebuyck to the highest bidder before training camp opens. However, Cheveldayoff has proven he won’t rush to make a deal when other players (Evander Kane, Jacob Trouba, Pierre-Luc Dubois) tried to force their way out of Winnipeg. Trading Hellebuyck for a meager return won’t sit well with Jets fans.

How the Jets intend to regain their 2024-25 Presidents’ Trophy form and what impact rookie center Viggo Bjorck will have on their roster are the other questions facing the club this season.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The St. Louis Blues named Robert Thomas as their new captain. He’s the 25th player in franchise history to hold that title. Thomas replaces Brayden Schenn, who was moved to the New York Islanders at the March trade deadline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Naming Thomas captain should silence any lingering conjecture about his future in St. Louis, which raised considerable speculation before the March trade deadline.

OTTAWA SUN: Florida Panthers winger Brad Marchand weighed in on Tim Stutzle being considered among the candidates to replace Brady Tkachuk as captain of the Ottawa Senators.

“HAHAHAH…..STUTZLE…..HAHAHA,” Marchand replied on his Instagram account.

Tkachuk became Marchand’s teammate when he was traded to the Panthers in June.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marchand is doing what he usually does in his role as the NHL’s biggest pest. It’ll likely stir up some Ottawa fans, but it’ll be interesting to see whether the Senators rise to the bait.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau observed that free-agent forward Evander Kane is clashing with former San Jose Sharks teammate Kurtis Gabriel after the latter called him out as a selfish and absurd teammate. Kane also took umbrage with Sportsnet’s Mark Spector after the Edmonton Oilers’ beat writer criticized his controversial comments on COVID issues.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kane is trying to find a new NHL club to play with this season. He earned a reputation as a difficult teammate after wearing out his welcome with the Winnipeg Jets, Buffalo Sabres, and the Sharks. Proteau suggests that his latest off-ice controversy might signal the end of his playing career.

DAILY FACEOFF: New York Islanders GM Mathieu Darche said Semyon Varlamov will be a full participant in training camp after missing most of the past two seasons with significant knee issues.

Varlamov’s last NHL game was Nov. 29, 2024. The 38-year-old goaltender had since undergone multiple knee procedures. Darche called Varlamov’s recovery “almost a miracle”, praising him for the hard work he put into his rehab.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Varlamov could become the favorite to win the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy if he stays healthy and puts in a full season with the Isles.

YAHOO! SPORTS: Jonah Sigel of the Toronto Star reported earlier this week that Sportsnet’s NHL insider Elliotte Friedman and NHL analyst Kevin Bieksa are free agents after their contracts expired on Monday.

Sigel wrote that it doesn’t mean Friedman and Bieksa won’t return, but his sources claimed neither had yet to do so.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: No word yet from Sportsnet, Friedman or Bieksa regarding their status. The network declined to extend long-time NHL analyst Kelly Hrudey’s contract. Letting Friedman and Bieksa join a rival network in Canada or the United States would signal a shakeup of their NHL television team.