NHL

Connor Hellebuyck Confirms He Asked Jets for a Trade

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck says he requested a trade months ago, putting the three-time Vezina winner at the centre of the NHL market.

Connor Hellebuyck smiles while wearing a Winnipeg Jets sweater
Connor Hellebuyck in a Winnipeg Jets sweater. · Credit: Image: ESPN

Connor Hellebuyck has publicly confirmed that he asked the Winnipeg Jets to trade him, according to an Associated Press report published by ESPN. The goaltender said the request was made several months ago and that he went public because training camp is approaching without a resolution.

Hellebuyck, 33, has spent his entire NHL career with Winnipeg. He has won the Vezina Trophy three times, was voted league MVP for the 2024–25 season and helped the United States win Olympic gold in February. Last season was a difficult one by his standards: he missed time with an injury, posted a career-low .895 save percentage and watched the Jets miss the playoffs.

His contract makes any potential move a major roster decision. Hellebuyck signed an eight-year, $59.5-million extension in October 2023 and remains under contract through 2031 at an $8.5-million annual cap hit. Winnipeg had not publicly responded when the source report was published. The request now puts one of the league’s most accomplished goaltenders at the centre of the NHL’s pre-camp trade market.

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This page is an original Sporting Page summary. The reporting remains with ESPN and writer Associated Press.

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Sources and notes

  1. ESPN, Associated Press, “Jets star goalie Connor Hellebuyck confirms trade request,” August 27, 2026. https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/49744854/jets-star-goalie-connor-hellebuyck-confirms-trade-request