Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck has had his title talked about in commerce hypothesis all summer time, and there was even a perception that he could also be searching for a recent begin.
On Thursday, he made it official that he’s, in actual fact, searching for a commerce.
Winnipeg Jets goalie makes commerce request public, official
Hellebuyck launched an announcement by his agent confirming that he had quietly requested a commerce out of Winnipeg earlier this offseason. Now that coaching camps are set to start, he mentioned he felt it was acceptable to replace the followers and everyone else as to what he’s searching for.
Right here is his full assertion:
The Jets issued an announcement of their very own in response.
Hellebuyck has spent his whole profession with the Winnipeg franchise and been top-of-the-line goalies in the whole league for many of it. He’s a three-time Vezina Trophy winner, received an MVP award and has at occasions single-handedly elevated the Jets as much as a degree the roster most likely had no enterprise taking part in at.
He’s additionally coming off a gold-medal-winning efficiency with Staff USA on the 2026 Winter Olympics. All these issues collectively make him probably the most embellished American-born goalie of all time, and already a slam-dunk Corridor of Famer.
Winnipeg administration has merely not persistently completed sufficient to construct a greater, deeper staff round him to benefit from having top-of-the-line goalies of this period. After a poor offseason in 2025-26, Winnipeg has adopted up with one other lackluster summer time that has not likely made any significant enhancements to the roster.
In his exit interviews after the 2025-26 season it was fairly clear that Hellebuyck had a lot of frustration starting to build with the state of the franchise and the path it’s entering into. He was vital of the complacency with the entrance workplace and its incapacity (or unwillingness) to carry higher gamers to Winnipeg and get them to remain.
The query now turns into whether or not or not Winnipeg’s entrance workplace and basic supervisor Kevin Cheveldayoff can determine an answer right here. This isn’t a state of affairs the place a brand new contract repair it or extra money could make issues higher. Hellebuyck will not be eligible to signal a brand new contract extension for an additional 4 years, whereas Winnipeg has most likely missed any alternative to make significant adjustments to the roster that might make Hellebuyck glad.
The truth that Hellebuyck made the request earlier this offseason and has not solely remained dedicated to it, however is now going public with it, additionally appears to point there’s no mending of the connection that may happen.
Cheveldayoff’s whole tenure as Winnipeg basic supervisor has been all about methodical roster constructing. He not often will get massive free brokers or makes important trades except he’s compelled into it. He is likely to be getting compelled into it right here.
