Connor Hellebuyck released a statement on Thursday confirming he requested a trade from the Winnipeg Jets this summer.
The statement was released by the goaltender’s agent, Ray Petkau.
“Winnipeg has been my home for my entire NHL career, and I will always be grateful for my time there,” the statement read. “I have never forgotten June 23, 2012. That’s the day Winnipeg took a chance on a goalie playing in Odessa, TX. I gave everything I had from that moment to prove that the Jets made the right decision.
“Several months ago, I privately requested a trade. I have tried to handle the situation quietly and respectfully while giving the organization time to explore its options.
“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.”
TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reported in June that Hellebuyck wouldn’t mind a change of scenery and general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff did little to quiet the chatter as he declined to confirm whether the star netminder had requested a trade.
Now deep into the off-season, the noise around a potential deal had quieted, seemingly against the wishes of the star netminder, who took home the Hart, Vezina and William M. Jennings trophies in 2025.
Hellebuyck appeared in 57 games last season, his lowest total since the 2020-21 season, but also started five games for Team USA at the Olympics en route to winning gold.
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 33-year-old signed a contract extension in October 2023 with an annual cap hit of $8.5 million through the 2020-31 season.
The Jets won the Presidents’ Trophy in 2025, becoming just the fifth team in NHL history to miss the playoffs in the following year.
“We’re a year removed from being the best team in the league,” defenceman Josh Morrissey told The Athletic earlier this month. “Having some issues last season with injuries and whatnot, it seemed that a lot of things that could go wrong did go wrong. Now, that’s not an excuse. You need to find solutions and battle through those things, and unfortunately we couldn’t do it well enough. But I do feel personally confident in the group.”
“I feel like we have a chance to get back to where we were a year prior — back to competing with the league’s best, back to having a chance to compete for the Stanley Cup,” Morrissey added. “As a player, I think that’s all you can really ask for: to be on a team with a group of guys who are driven and can compete for a Stanley Cup. I believe in our guys.”
The Jets are coming off of a relatively quiet off-season, having added defenceman Mario Ferraro and goaltender Stuart Skinner in their most significant moves.
The addition Skinner on July 1 raised further questions on Hellebuyck’s future. The team also has Thomas Milic, Domenic DiVincentiis and Isaac Poulter in their system at goaltender.
More to follow.
