Three NHL players to miss season openers due to suspensions
Charlie McAvoy and Ridly Greig will serve suspensions at the start of the season for playoff incidents, while Connor Hellebuyck is suspended indefinitely by the Jets for not reporting to camp. McAvoy gets six games and Greig two. Hellebuyck's suspension has no set end date.
McAvoy's slash came late in the third period of Boston's first-round elimination game, drawing an immediate major penalty and ejection. Because the Bruins were finished for the season, the six-game ban carries into the new campaign. Greig's punch was classified as roughing by the league's disciplinary department, with the ruling announced in early May.
Hellebuyck's situation differs fundamentally — it stems from a trade request made public in late August, followed by his failure to report to training camp in mid-September. The Jets' suspension strips his salary with no defined endpoint. Winnipeg's general manager has stated no trade exists, and the goaltender's reasons for wanting out reportedly extend beyond hockey matters.
This story could affect fan expectations for season openers, as three teams lose key players — Boston a top defenseman, Ottawa a forward, and Winnipeg its starting goaltender. The Hellebuyck standoff may also influence how players and teams approach trade disputes, potentially setting a precedent for similar situations. Fans of these clubs may feel frustrated by the uncertainty, while the league's consistent enforcement of playoff discipline could reinforce confidence in the fairness of its disciplinary system.