No party is willing to comment publicly and sprinkle gasoline on a smoldering fire, but Connor Hellebuyck’s clear preference is to continue his career south of the 49th parallel.

And to be fair, sources say none of Canada’s other six franchises have made overtures to Winnipeg. Yet.

The Montréal Canadiens, in fact, have too many goaltenders in their crowded crease — which is why Sam Montembeault is a good bet to be one of the first players traded this spring.

The Edmonton Oilers are triaging a shaky start for Tristan Jarry, who allowed six goals in his season debut, the 10th game in his last 12 as an Oiler that he let in four or more.

So as we strategize a resolution to the Hellebuyck saga, there is at least one NHL executive wondering: Is Hellebuyck’s decision about Canada an absolute or merely a preference?

If the Oilers continue to reel in goal — Tuesday’s opener made Frederik Andersen’s December debut feel a long way off — could they consider making a play for Hellebuyck? Would Hellebuyck soften his stance to make it a possibility?

“To me, Winnipeg’s biggest weapon here is time,” the executive said. “He wants to play. They can wait him out and make it painful for him.”

Time is certainly a variable worth watching in this standoff. This is not a decision driven by money, but the tab is running on that too. On Monday, Hellebuyck began to forfeit $38,659 per day while suspended for failure to report.

The other variables? Significant struggle or major injury in a contender’s crease, for one.

The Jets could reshape their ask. As........

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