Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff says the team has had conversations and discussions with Connor Hellebuyck regarding his future, but would not confirm if the star goaltender has requested a trade.
There has been plenty of buzz around the 33-year-old netminder, who won both the Hart and Vezina Trophies in the 2024-25 season. Cheveldayoff said there is no timeline for a potential trade as the team weighs their options.
TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun believes the Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, and Buffalo Sabres are three potential landing spots for Hellebuyck on the trade market.
“There’s no question that Hellebuyck’s name has been talked about with the Sabres,” LeBrun said on Insider Trading on Thursday. “When I look at Hellebuyck and the Jets, they don’t have to trade him in the off-season. It’s clear from his comments after the season that it’s something Hellebuyck would prefer.
“The Florida Panthers are very much interested in Hellebuyck, but my understanding is that they’re not willing to give up Anton Lundell. So, that makes it hard to get Hellebuyck out of Winnipeg when I look at the assets that Florida has left. They’ve traded a lot of assets.
“Carolina is always big-game hunting, and Hellebuyck is big game. So, keep an eye them as well.”
The 33-year-old signed a contract extension in October 2023 with an annual cap hit of $8.5 million through the 2020-31 season.
Hellebuyck posted the worst save percentage of his career at .895 – the first time he’s fallen below .900 - in 2025-26, to go along with a 2.86 goals-against average and a 23-23-11 record.
The Jets fell from the Presidents’ Trophy to out of a playoff position, and the Commerce, Mich., native did not hide his disappointment.
“To take the step back that we did this year, it felt very wrong,” said Hellebuyck after the season. “From the President’s Trophy to this just felt like that should never happen – and it did, and I’m part of it.
“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,” said Hellebuyck. “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?”
The four-time All-Star has a career save percentage of .916 and a GAA of 2.58 in 625 games (615 starts) in his NHL career, all with the Jets.
He was originally selected in the fifth round (130th overall) by Winnipeg in the 2012 NHL Draft.
