NHL Rumours: Ingram Retires at 29, Jecho in Player Assistance & Scheifele Confidence – The Hockey Writers – NHL Rumors

In today’s NHL rumours, we start off by looking at Connor Ingram, who announced his retirement from hockey to pursue a new career path. Next, St. Louis Blues prospect Adam Jecho has entered the NHL/NHLPA’s player assistance program.

Finally, despite Connor Hellebuyck’s trade request, Mark Scheifele still believes in what the Winnipeg Jets have.

Ingram Retires at 29, Looks to Pursue Psychology Education

After 143 games in the NHL, Ingram will be hanging up the skates, but will continue his journey by going to school for psychology.

In 2021, Ingram entered the NHL/NHLPA’s player assistance program to help with undiagnosed obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, and anxiety. Ingram was very outspoken about what he had dealt with, including the fact that he used alcohol to cope with these issues.

In 2025, after the passing of his mother, he reentered the program for support.

In between those two periods, Ingram was awarded the 2023–24 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.

After spending last season with the Edmonton Oilers and their AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, Ingram had been linked to the Ottawa Senators heading into the offseason (from ‘Senators eye Nick Cousins return as Ottawa weighs options on team’s other UFAs’, Ottawa Sun, June 3, 2026)

Elliotte Friedman noted that Ingram will be retiring and looking to join a psychology program at a school to help others deal with what he went through.

Blues Prospect Adam Jecho Enters Player Assistance Program

The player assistance program has been used by plenty of players over its 30-year existence, and the NHLPA announced that Jecho has been entered into the program.

Jecho was a third-round pick in 2024 and was expected to join the Blues’ training camp ahead of his first professional season. While entered into the program, the player will be away from the team but will return when cleared for on-ice competition by the program administrators.

Scheifele Has Confidence in Jets Moving Forward

The Athletic’s Murat Ates asked one of the biggest questions surrounding the Jets and Hellebuyck’s trade request: “Shouldn’t Scheifele, who bought the same sales pitch that Hellebuyck did in 2023, have the same doubts?” (from ‘Mark Scheifele, Connor Hellebuyck and Winnipeg’s efforts to rebuild a winner’, The Athletic, Sept. 12, 2026)

Scheifele addressed this question, stating that with players like Kyle Connor, Josh Morrissey, Gabe Vilardi, and others, they still have a ton of talent and the ability to win.

He noted that younger players like Viggo Bjorck, Elias Salomonsson, and Brayden Yager should spark confidence in the group moving forward, too. On top of all that, new additions like Mario Ferraro and Stuart Skinner were labelled as “some really good pieces”.

While losing a Hart Trophy and three-time Vezina Trophy winner won’t make things easy, after his own career-best individual season, Scheifele is feeling good about this season.

There is a lot to like about what the Jets have. They are missing a few complementary pieces, especially for their second line, but they have good star talent and defense, as well as team depth.

The Jets have been holding off on a Hellebuyck trade to find the right return, however, after his public statement regarding his trade request, general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff’s job might have gotten even harder.

The return Cheveldayoff reportedly wants includes a goaltender coming back, as well as an impactful forward. With training camps getting started, that may be a difficult task.