Perched atop our September NHL Trade Targets Big Board, Connor Hellebucyk’s days with the Winnipeg Jets appear to be numbered. He revealed last month that he requested a trade this spring and still believes it would be best for him and his family to move to another NHL city.
Hellebuyck, 33, should attract plenty of interest in the trade market. An elite goaltender, he’s the league’s only active three-time Vezina Trophy winner. He also won the Hart Memorial Trophy in 2024-25 and backstopped Team USA to gold in the 2026 Winter Olympics.
While Hellebuyck has a full no-movement clause, Chris Johnston of The Athletic reported on Aug. 27 that he’s willing to waive it for “a variety of teams”. His colleague, Pierre LeBrun, reported that the Carolina Hurricanes, Buffalo Sabres, and Utah Mammoth are among the possibilities.
However, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman told NHL Network last Friday that the trade options open to the Jets earlier this summer are no longer available. He also noted that some players who may have been available before July 1 may no longer be because their no-trade clauses had changed.
Friedman believed the Florida Panthers were interested in Hellebuyck but used most of their trade capital to acquire Brady Tkachuk. The Jets discussed a deal with the Buffalo Sabres, but Friedman said a disagreement about swapping 2026 first-round picks scuttled that plan.
Salary cap and contract info via PuckPedia.
