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Jets Suspend Hellebuyck After Trade Request
Confirmed
In Short: Winnipeg Jets have suspended star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck for failing to report to training camp.
Winnipeg Jets have suspended star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck for failing to report to training camp, a move that came after Hellebuyck publicly requested a trade.
Hellebuyck, a three-time Vezina Trophy winner, stated in a statement released by his agent that he had privately requested a trade several months ago.
The Jets, who missed the playoffs last season, are seeking a goalie to replace Hellebuyck and are focusing on immediate help rather than future picks.
Hellebuyck’s contract, signed in October 2023, has an average annual value of $8.5 million over seven years.
Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said he is continuing to look at different avenues to resolve the situation, but there is no timeline for a possible trade.
What's confirmed
- "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," Hellebuyck wrote in a statement released by his agent.
- The saga between Connor Hellebuyck and the Winnipeg Jets continued on Wednesday.
- “Winnipeg has been my home for my entire NHL career, and I will always be grateful for my time there,” Hellebuyck said.
- Cheveldayoff had said before June’s NHL draft that he was listening to offers for Hellebuyck.
- The general manager of the Winnipeg Jets will speak to reporters Thursday after the team suspended star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck for failing to report to training camp.
- By Ryan Long | at September 17, 2026 9:50 am The Winnipeg Jets announced today that they have suspended goaltender Connor Hellebuyck for failure to report to training camp.
What's still developing
- After the Jets' dissapointing 2025-26 campaign, speculation began to arise about whether Hellebuyck would ask out in hopes of joining a contender as he seeks his first championship.
- Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported before the NHL draft that the Jets were believed to be in talks with the Buffalo Sabres about a deal for Hellebuyck, but those trade discussions seemingly fizzled.
- Hellebuyck and the Jets are clearly at an impasse, and whether they'll find a solution before the start of the season remains to be seen.
- While Hellebuyck is an accomplished goalie and one of the best of his generation, he's 33 years old and is owed $8.7 million in cap space per year over the next five seasons.
- Captain Adam Lowry told NHL.com on Sept. 8 that the Jets can’t spend time worrying about Hellebuyck’s situation and instead have to focus on the season.
- The Jets, who won the Presidents’ Trophy as the team with the best record in the NHL two seasons ago, missed the postseason in 2025-26.
- The Jets won the Presidents’ Trophy after finishing with the NHL’s best record (56-22-4) before losing to the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Second Round.
- Hellebuyck was 23-23-11 with a 2.86 GAA and.895 save percentage in 57 games, the first time since the shortened 2020-21 season that he did not play at least 60 games.