It's not a great look for the local hockey club, that much is obvious. So it's fair to ask the question: have the Winnipeg Jets become a difficult team to do business with?
There's mounting evidence to suggest that's the case, especially since training camp is about to begin here in River City with ongoing contract disputes taking centre stage for a second straight September.
Last year it was top-pairing defenceman Josh Morrissey's stalemate that overshadowed the on-ice action, at least until the matter was resolved a few days later. When things get underway at Bell MTS Iceplex on Friday, it looks to be a case of double trouble in the form of star forwards Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor, barring any last-minute developments.