FILE – Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck stands by the net during a time out from play against the Dallas Stars in the first period of an NHL hockey game, April 2, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File) The trade request from Connor Hellebuyck could be a major issue for the Winnipeg Jets as the NHL offseason nears training camp. Elliotte Friedman says some of the players and draft assets that could have made a deal easier earlier in the summer are no longer there.Now it gets even more complicated because some NHL players have also earned no-trade protection, which could limit Winnipeg’s options. Hellebuyck is signed for several seasons, giving the Jets leverage but also making any potential blockbuster trade dependent on finding the right return.
Could Connor Hellebuyck’s trade request challenge Winnipeg Jets?
The biggest problem is that the availability of trade assets around the NHL fluctuates. Things that might have been available around the draft or the start of the offseason are no longer on the market, Friedman said.That leaves Winnipeg with fewer clear avenues to construct a deal involving a goaltender of Hellebuyck’s calibre. There are also contract protections in play here, as some players have secured no-trade or similar clauses since the offseason began.Hellebuyck went public with his trade request after requesting the Jets to investigate a trade earlier this season. So his decision has been a big storyline around Winnipeg heading into the 2026-27 season.
Why does Hellebuyck remain valuable to Winnipeg?
Hellebuyck’s proven NHL resume gives the Winnipeg Jets a strong case to be receiving a lot in return. The veteran goaltender has played his entire NHL career in Winnipeg and is a three-time Vezina Trophy winner.His last season, however, was a tough one by his standards. Hellebuyck finished the 2025-26 season 23-23-11 with a 2.86 goals-against average and a .895 save percentage in 57 games.Those numbers could affect how potential trade partners view him, even if his overall career resume still looks pretty good. Winnipeg needs to balance his value down the road with the loss of leverage if the trade process drags into training camp.
When could the Winnipeg Jets face greater pressure?
With training camp approaching, the pressure on the Winnipeg Jets to decide on Hellebuyck’s future could mount. Winnipeg is scheduled to open camp Sept. 17, and its first preseason game is Sept. 19.For Winnipeg, retaining an elite goaltender remains an option, but Hellebuyck has made clear that he believes moving on is the preferred path, and the Jets must now determine whether a suitable return exists in a market where available players and draft picks have become harder to acquire.The deal for Hellebuyck also makes this situation interesting. He is under contract through the 2030-31 season on a seven-year, $59.5 million deal with an $8.5 million average annual value.Friedman’s appraisal doesn’t mean a deal can’t be done. Instead, it demonstrates why the process has become more difficult than it could have been earlier in this offseason.