The high goalie in the world is hoping to be traded earlier than NHL coaching camps open in September.
Connor Hellebuyck went public with his request to be traded from the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday. In a assertion launched by his agent, Ray Petkau, Hellebuyck confirmed that he requested for a trade from Winnipeg a number of months in the past, and that he nonetheless believes shifting on is the finest path ahead for him and his household. The Jets responded with a assertion of their very own from basic supervisor Kevin Cheveldayoff, saying they are going to (*8*)
The three-time Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender is hoping to search out a new crew sooner somewhat than later, whereas the Jets received’t be eager on shifting their finest participant with out receiving honest compensation. While we don’t know precisely what Winnipeg is asking for in return, right here’s a abstract from their perspective, from The Athletic’s Jets beat author, Murat Ates:
“Winnipeg will seek to delay a rebuild if at all possible. Expect the Jets’ ideal return to focus on roster players – a top-six forward, a goaltender who can share the net with Skinner – and a first-round pick or similar asset. When Cheveldayoff named his team’s biggest needs, answering The Athletic’s question prior to the draft, he put his focus squarely on a second-line center. He then drafted Viggo Bjorck, who Winnipeg is inclined to give an NHL opportunity at 18 years old and who projects to be a strong two-way center. The selection doesn’t automatically pivot Winnipeg’s needs from center to right wing, where Gabriel Vilardi is the only surefire threat, but it gives the Jets options in terms of the forward they get back. Skinner has played at least 50 games for four straight seasons, so the Jets don’t need a surefire starter – just someone who can play a “1B” position and take 30 to 35 begins.”
The Athletic’s Chris Johnston reported on Thursday that one key distinction between Hellebuyck’s trade request in comparison with others round the NHL is that he’s prepared to waive his no-movement clause for a number of teams, which implies the Jets have choices.
With that in thoughts, listed below are the teams that make the most sense as potential trade companions, and why some could also be higher suits than others.
Buffalo Sabres
Much of the dialog round potential touchdown spots for Hellebuyck has centered round Buffalo, and for good cause. The Sabres needs to be thought of a frontrunner. They took a big step ahead in 2025-26, snapping a 14-year playoff drought. It was largely fueled by a top-five scoring assault, however in addition they obtained surprisingly regular goaltending from Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon, who mixed to present them the third-highest crew save share in the NHL.
It’s honest to surprise if the duo can repeat that in 2026-27. Luukkonen’s 4 full seasons in the NHL have bounced between stellar and disappointing, and Lyon’s profession has been equally uneven.
With the expertise the Sabres have at ahead and on the blue line, Hellebuyck would immediately make them a high contender in the East. We’ve solely seen Hellebuyck play behind a top-five scoring crew twice in his profession, and in each cases he led the NHL in wins. In 2017-18, he completed runner-up for the Vezina and led Winnipeg to the convention finals. In 2024-25, he helped the Jets win the Presidents’ Trophy and walked away with the Vezina and Hart trophies.
Buffalo’s wage cap scenario is one more reason to consider it’s a high touchdown spot. The Sabres nonetheless have $6.9 million in area, which is already almost sufficient to suit Hellebuyck’s $8.5 million cap hit. If the Jets took Luukkonen again in a trade, it will clear one other $4.75 million, leaving loads of room. The Sabres even have a plethora of top-six forwards they could ship Winnipeg’s manner, together with Josh Norris and Ryan McLeod, giving this potential trade a actual probability.
Vegas Golden Knights
Rarely does a star participant hit the trade market with out the Golden Knights being talked about in some capability. Vegas has made a number of blockbuster trades over the final 9 seasons, with a number of being below comparable circumstances: a participant sad of their present location.
General supervisor Kelly McCrimmon has made it clear that he’s glad with his present goalie tandem of Carter Hart and Adin Hill, however it doesn’t imply he received’t change his thoughts if the proper alternative presents itself. Neither Hart nor Hill was notably spectacular in the common season, with the crew rating close to the backside of the league in save share and targets saved above anticipated. Hart was glorious in the playoffs, sans a poor ending in the Cup Final, and Hill has proven he’s ok to guide the crew to a title, however Hellebuyck is clearly one other tier of goalie completely.
What makes this selection notably intriguing is the stylistic match. Hellebuyck is a positional goalie who reads the play extremely nicely and thrives in construction. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights defend with arguably the finest construction in the NHL. They make use of a zone protection that does an distinctive job of holding the puck out of the high-danger areas and permits predictable photographs. It’s why they led the league with the fewest high-danger probabilities and anticipated targets in opposition to final season.
Giving predictable probabilities to a goalie with Hellebuyck’s anticipation abilities is a recipe for a fourth Vezina Trophy. The greatest hurdle in a trade between the Golden Knights and Jets could be cap area and trade property. Vegas at present has solely $1.9 million in area. If Hill and his $6.25 million cap hit have been to be included in the return package deal, it will get Vegas shut, however there’s no assure the Jets could be involved in taking up that contract for the subsequent 5 years after Hill’s disappointing 2025-26 season.
The Golden Knights don’t have a first-round draft decide in subsequent yr’s draft, however they do have two in 2028 after buying one from the Rangers in the Pavel Dorofeyev trade this summer time. If the Jets are searching for a top-six ahead or top-four defenseman in return, Vegas is a bit handcuffed by no-trade clauses for many of its high gamers, but when there’s one factor we’ve discovered, it’s that Vegas finds a manner. From Hellebuyck’s perspective, Vegas’ constant monitor document is interesting, as is becoming a member of Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin, with whom he received a gold medal at the Olympics.
Carolina Hurricanes
Adding an elite goalie to the defending Stanley Cup champions could be unhealthy information for the remainder of the NHL, however is it lifelike?
The Hurricanes have remained steadfast of their strategy over the years, often passing on alternatives so as to add a high-dollar goalie and as an alternative trying to discover worth in internet whereas investing cash elsewhere on the roster. It labored final season, as Frederik Andersen ($2.75 million cap hit) led them to the Cup Final, the place Brandon Bussi (a waiver declare with a meager $775,000 cap hit) helped them win all of it. Carolina is at present arrange nicely to proceed on that path, with Bussi signed for the subsequent three seasons for $1.9 million per season, and Pyotr Kochetkov on an expiring deal value solely $2 million. That $3.9 million funding in goaltending is the third-lowest in the NHL.
General supervisor Eric Tulsky seemingly sees no cause to stray from this technique, mere months after it received a championship, however it’s value noting that below the rapidly rising wage cap, Hellebuyck’s contract is arguably a worth at this level. His cap hit accounts for under 8.2 p.c of the whole cap, which is nearer to the deal Carolina signed Andersen to in 2021 (5.5 p.c of the cap) than it’s to the greatest goalie offers, similar to the one Carey Price signed in Montreal in 2018, which accounted for 13.2 p.c of the cap, or the one Sergei Bobrovsky signed in 2019 with Florida, which took up 12.3 p.c of the cap.
It could be an against-the-grain transfer by the Hurricanes, however they’ve loads of cap area and trade property to make it occur in the event that they selected to take action.
Utah Mammoth
The Mammoth could be a sneaky contender on this sweepstakes. They took main steps ahead final season, pushed Vegas in the first spherical of the playoffs, and have a number of younger gamers nonetheless on the manner up. Karel Vejmelka has been strong in internet, dealing with one among the greatest workloads of any goalie in the league over the final two seasons, however Hellebuyck clearly could be an improve.
The Jets might have little interest in buying and selling their star goalie inside the division, however Utah has loads of future property and top-six forwards to incorporate in a potential trade in the event that they did. The Mammoth don’t at present have fairly sufficient cap area to slot in Hellebuyck, however they’d if Vejmelka have been included in the return package deal, and Winnipeg seemingly wouldn’t thoughts rolling with a duo of Vejmelka and Skinner.
If Winnipeg isn’t planning to enter a rebuild, serving to a divisional opponent make the leap to true contender standing doesn’t make a lot sense. Outside of that — which is admittedly a fairly huge hurdle — Utah is a superb match for Hellebuyck.
New Jersey Devils
If newly appointed basic supervisor Sunny Mehta needs to make a splash, this would definitely be it. His predecessor, Tom Fitzgerald, took a huge swing at goalie by buying and selling for Jacob Markstrom in 2024. After sending Markstrom and the the rest of his contract to Florida this summer time, the Devils are left with a pretty naked cabinet in the crease.
Jake Allen and Nico Daws at present make up the least expensive goalie tandem in the NHL, with a mixed cap hit of solely $2.9 million. Allen has been glorious in his three seasons in New Jersey and is coming off arguably the finest season of his 13-year NHL profession, however he’s additionally 36 and hasn’t dealt with a true starter’s workload since 2018.
The Devils have been affected by accidents the previous few seasons, however there’s loads of expertise on the roster. With a little higher luck in that division, and with elite goaltending, they could simply make the leap from lottery crew to contender in the East.
San Jose Sharks
With one among the most enjoyable younger rosters in the league, the Sharks appear primed for a breakout. Adding a world-class goalie would speed up their timeline for rivalry in a huge manner, however it additionally appears like the timelines for Hellebuyck and the Sharks’ core don’t precisely match up.
San Jose completed in the backside 10 final season in crew save share, however that quantity is extra of a product of abysmal defending than the goaltending itself. Yaroslav Askarov was inconsistent in his first yr as a starter. He had stretches of brilliance, when he confirmed why he’s seen as a franchise netminder. He had stretches when his recreation received a bit free and too many pucks discovered the again of the internet. Still, with a younger crew whose projected window to win isn’t fairly open, it appears like permitting Askarov to develop as the true No. 1 might be the higher possibility.
If basic supervisor Mike Grier wished so as to add a stud veteran goalie to play alongside Askarov, he could’ve pursued Bobrovsky in free company with out having to trade something, with the added advantage of including a Russian legend for Askarov to be taught from. He clearly feels snug with his present goalie room of Askarov, Alex Nedeljkovic and Eric Comrie.
From Winnipeg’s perspective, getting Askarov again in a trade could be improbable. He’s solely 24 and has Vezina-caliber potential if he reaches his ceiling, however contemplating the Sharks’ big-picture timeline, swapping the youthful goalie for a extra confirmed however getting older Hellebuyck doesn’t appear prudent. There’s additionally no assure Hellebuyck consists of the Sharks on his record of contenders he’s prepared to simply accept a trade to.
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets could be a darkish horse in these sweepstakes. The match isn’t apparent, contemplating they missed the playoffs for the sixth straight season final yr and noticed Jet Greaves emerge as one among the higher younger netminders in the league. Columbus at present ranks twentieth in betting odds to win the Cup, and fifth to win their division, however a lot could change with an addition similar to Hellebuyck.
The Blue Jackets have been round league common in most statistics final season, however did permit the sixth-fewest high-danger probabilities, with a sturdy protection led by Hellebuyck’s Team USA teammate and Norris Trophy winner, Zach Werenski. If they get sizable leaps from younger, proficient forwards Adam Fantilli and Cole Sillinger, and the core of veterans up entrance performs to its potential, Columbus could be a lot improved. The crew was red-hot below coach Rick Bowness earlier than faltering down the stretch.
Columbus has loads of cap area and a sturdy pool of younger prospects to select from in a potential trade. It’s not the probably vacation spot for Hellebuyck, however it wouldn’t be overly shocking to see Columbus take a huge swing.
Dallas Stars
Is there potential for a blockbuster one-for-one goalie trade?
Hellebuyck needs to play for a contender, which Dallas clearly is. The Stars have been searching for one thing to get them over the hump, which Hellebuyck could clearly be. The Jets are hoping to amass sufficient expertise on this trade to keep away from a full rebuild, and getting a youthful, franchise goalie similar to Jake Oettinger might be the finest they could ever hope for.
There’s only one main difficulty. Oettinger, who’s signed via the 2032-33 season, has a full no-movement clause in his contract. The Lakeville, Minn., native loves Dallas and seemingly seemingly has no intention of waiving that clause, nor ought to he.