Connor Hellebuyck is still a member of the Winnipeg Jets after asking to be traded, which has left the organization trying to find a deal that would bring back fair value for its longtime No. 1 goaltender.
Hellebuyck did not show up for the first day of training camp on Thursday and was later suspended by the Jets. His absence hit teammates hard, including Kyle Connor, who said the situation had left many players feeling “heartbroken” after so many years together.
For general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff, though, the main goal is to find a solution without letting feelings drive the decision. He said Hellebuyck is still part of the Jets family until a trade is made.
Connor Hellebuyck trade request leaves Jets without a goalie
Hellebuyck confirmed publicly on Aug. 27 that he had asked for a trade earlier in the off-season. The 33-year-old has five seasons left on the seven-year, $59.5 million contract he signed in October 2023, which pays him an average annual value of $8.5 million.
The three-time Vezina Trophy winner has been the face of the Jets for more than a decade. Since Winnipeg picked him in the fifth round, 130th overall, of the 2012 NHL Draft, he has appeared in 625 regular-season games, including 615 starts.
Among Winnipeg goalies with at least 100 games played, Hellebuyck holds franchise records for wins with 345, save percentage at .916, goals-against average at 2.58, and shutouts with 45.
Hellebuyck said he had tried to handle the matter quietly and respectfully while giving the organization time to weigh its options. As training camp approached, he decided to make his trade request public and said his stance had not changed, believing a move was the best path forward for himself and his family.
The Winnipeg Jets search for the right trade deal
Cheveldayoff has made it clear that the Jets are not willing to simply give Hellebuyck away. He said the organization is seeking a return that matches the goalie’s importance to the franchise and his standing as a high-level NHL player.
Trade talk had been ongoing for months before Hellebuyck made his request public. On July 1, Winnipeg signed Stuart Skinner, who had helped the Edmonton Oilers reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2024 and 2025, to a two-year, $7.5 million contract worth $3.75 million annually.
The Jets are coming off a season in which they went 35-35-12 and missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs. That followed their Presidents’ Trophy-winning 2024-25 campaign, when they had the NHL’s best regular-season record.
Hellebuyck was central to that previous season, winning both the Hart Trophy as the League’s most valuable player and the Vezina Trophy. He went 47-12-3 with a 2.00 goals-against average, a .925 save percentage and eight shutouts in 63 games.
Kevin Cheveldayoff keeps focus on the Jets’ future
Cheveldayoff said the organization has been dealing with the situation for some time and wants to find a resolution that works for both sides while also considering the players and fans. He stressed that the potential return could include future assets but said that would not be the message he wants to send to players who are committed to Winnipeg.
Kyle Connor said the players cannot control the circumstances and must focus on what is in front of them. While he described the news as difficult and said many teammates were heartbroken, he also viewed the situation as a challenge for the group to raise its level after a disappointing previous season.
Cheveldayoff said his responsibility is to the Winnipeg Jets, their players, and their fans. He added that there was no specific timetable for completing a trade and that he wanted to get the decision right because Hellebuyck has been extremely important to the franchise.
Until that happens, Hellebuyck remains in limbo and away from the team. The Jets’ general manager is continuing to wait for a proposal that he believes would provide a return commensurate with the value of one of the most important players in the franchise’s recent history.