Connor Hellebuyck wants to play for a different team this upcoming season.
After privately requesting a trade from the Winnipeg Jets “several months ago,” Hellebuyck has now gone public with his desire to leave, as the Jets and the rest of the NHL head into the start of the preseason. Hellebuyck released the news through a statement posted by his agent, Ray Petkau, on Thursday afternoon.
Winnipeg has been my home for my entire NHL career, and I will always be grateful for my time there.
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.
Hellebuyck, 33, is signed through the 2030-31 campaign at an $8.5 million cap hit. The three-time Vezina Trophy winner and one-time NHL MVP was rumored earlier this summer to be displeased with the present direction of the Jets, as the club finished outside of the playoffs this past year for the first time since 2022.
In 57 games for the Jets last season, Hellebuyck posted a 23-23-11 record with a 2.86 goals-against average and an .895 save percentage. He did not record a shutout for the first time in a single season, and per MoneyPuck, he saved just 5.5 more goals than expected, a 34.1 decrease from 2024-25.
Hellebuyck is another member of the recent Olympic-gold-medal-winning Team USA to seek a trade this offseason, with Brady Tkachuk receiving his move from the Ottawa Senators and Dylan Larkin still waiting for his from the Detroit Red Wings.
One of the main teams reported to have interest in a move for Hellebuyck is the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes. In June, Carolina reportedly made a big offer to the Jets to land Hellebuyck, believed to include a first-round pick and 24-year-old defenseman Alexander Nikishkin.
Other teams with prior interest in acquiring Hellebuyck included the Florida Panthers, Utah Mammoth, Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres, and San Jose Sharks.
