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Hellebuyck Suspended by Jets After Trade Request
Confirmed
In Short: Connor Hellebuyck, the three-time Vezina Trophy winner, is suspended by the Winnipeg Jets after publicly requesting a trade, as the team seeks immediate goaltending help ahead of the season.
Connor Hellebuyck, the three-time Vezina Trophy winner, is suspended by the Winnipeg Jets after publicly requesting a trade, a move that comes as the team looks to find immediate goaltending help ahead of the upcoming season.
In August, Hellebuyck released a statement saying he had privately requested a trade, a situation that has not changed despite the Jets' efforts to explore options.
The Jets, who won the Presidents' Trophy two seasons ago, missed the playoffs in the 2025-26 season, with Hellebuyck struggling to 23-23-11 with a 2.86 GAA and a.895 save percentage in 57 games.
Captain Adam Lowry told NHL.com that the team cannot afford to focus on Hellebuyck's situation and must concentrate on the season ahead.
The Jets announced the suspension Wednesday evening, hours after players reported for medicals ahead of their first on-ice sessions Thursday at the Hockey For All Centre.
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.
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.
- The team reportedly is seeking a goalie to replace Hellebuyck and is focusing on immediate help rather than future picks, but it might be difficult to get that kind of return for him.
- 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.
- 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.
- He said he went public with the request as training camp approached because his position had not changed.