Connor Hellebuyck went public with his trade request from the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday, making him the third member of the United States team that won gold at the Olympics in February to ask for a trade.
Hellebuyck follows former Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk, who was traded to the Florida Panthers in June, and Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin, who continues to wait for a move.
TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston noted on Thursday that Hellebuyck’s request is different in the sense that he is willing to waive his no-movement clause for a variety of teams.
Tkachuk, whose request never went public before he was dealt, submitted a list of four preferred destinations in the Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, Minnesota Wild, and Vegas Golden Knights, per TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun, as he informed the Senators he would not sign an extension once his deal expired at the end of the 2027-28 season. LeBrun added, however, that Tkachuk never promised to waive his no-move clause to join any team except the Panthers.
The St. Louis Blues were one team that reached out the Senators about making a deal for Tkachuk, the son of franchise icon Keith Tkachuk, but were turned away.
“With the player that got traded, we knew he was available, we inquired about him, we were told [the Blues] weren’t on [his trade] list, and that’s the end of it,” then-Blues GM Doug Armstrong said in June. “You can’t create something that’s not there.”
Larkin, whose request has been further delayed as the Detroit Red Wings search for a new general manager with Steve Yzerman moving to an advisor role, listed the Panthers, Wild and Golden Knights when he first asked out in June. He later added the Dallas Stars, but as training camp nears without a general manager in place, no move appears close.
Larkin has not discussed his request publicly, though his agent Pat Brisson said in June he and the Red Wings were trying to work “as a team” to complete a move.
Johnston notes the offers the Jets have received on Hellebuyck have not met the team’s demands as of yet, but they are “not totally handcuffed.” Trade talks around Hellebuyck appeared to heat up ahead of the NHL Draft in June, but no move came to fruition.
The 6-foot-4 netminder is entering the third season of a seven-year, $59.5 million contract that carries an annual cap hit of $8.5 million. He holds a full no-move clause as part of the contract through next July, when it will switch to a 10-team approved trade list.
Hellebuyck, 33, went 23-23-11 last season with a 2.86 goals-against average and an .895 save percentage. Winnipeg took a step backward, going from Presidents’ Trophy winners to missing the playoffs.
He was crucial in leading the United States to their first Olympic gold medal in men’s hockey since 1980, going 5-0 with a 1.18 GAA and .956 save percentage. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom following his 41-save performance in the gold-medal win overtime win against Canada.
He made it clear after the season that his sole focus moving forward was finding the same glory in the NHL.
“For me, it’s winning a Stanley Cup – that’s my goal, and that’s all I have left, and that’s what I want on my resumé,” Hellebuyck said in April. “I don’t play this game for the money, I don’t play it for the fame. I do it for my own personal fun and, you know, part of that is winning a Cup. So for me, I’m just looking at how can I get that? How can I get there?”
Hellebuyck is just a year removed from being he runaway winner of the Hart Trophy and Vezina Trophy in 2024-25, putting up a 47-12-3 record with a 2.00 GAA and .925 save percentage.
He put the pressure on Winnipeg Thursday as he informed the world he first requested a trade earlier this summer.
“I have tried to handle the situation quietly and respectfully while giving the organization time to explore its options,” Hellebuyck said as part of a statement released by his agent. “With training camp approaching, I felt it was important to publicly confirm my request. My position has not changed, and I believe moving on is the best path forward for me and my family.
“I appreciate everything Winnipeg Jets fans have meant to me throughout my career and hope a resolution can be reached soon.”
Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff, who declined to reveal whether Hellebuyck had made a trade request earlier this summer, responded to announcement a short time later.
“Connor has been open with us about his desire for a change,” Cheveldayoff said. “He has been an important part of the Winnipeg Jets organization for many years and we have tremendous respect for what he has accomplished here.
“While we will continue to work through the situation in a thoughtful manner, there is no update at this time.”
It’s been a quiet month in the NHL with just three trades having been made, all involving future considerations. Whether Hellebuyck adds a blockbuster to that list remains to be seen as league returns from its summer slumber with training camps opening in a few weeks.
