The 2026 Stanley Cup champions don’t appear like they will be resting on their laurels this summer.
According to hockey insider Frank Seravalli, the Carolina Hurricanes have made a big offer to the Winnipeg Jets in an attempt to land star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. The offer is believed to include a first-round pick and 24-year-old defenseman Alexander Nikishkin.
Hellebuyck, 33, is signed through the 2030-31 campaign at a $8.5 million cap hit. The three-time Vezina Trophy winner and one-time NHL MVP is rumored 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 a .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.
Nikishin, who finished seventh in Calder Trophy voting, recorded 33 points (11g, 22a) in 81 games for the Hurricanes. Carolina has $11.1 million in cap space this summer, and Nikishin is a pending restricted free agent in need of a big-time raise.
The Hurricanes have two goaltenders under contract for next season, Cup Final hero Brandon Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov. Veteran netminder Frederik Andersen is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
Other teams expected to be interested in acquiring Hellebuyck include the Florida Panthers, Utah Mammoth, Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres, and San Jose Sharks.
