Connor Hellebuyck linked to Pacific Division playoff contender

The Connor Hellebuyck saga continues to drag on, with the star netminder suspended after failing to report to training camp. Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff is still trying to find a resolution, but one has yet to materialize.

The San Jose Sharks have at least explored the possibility of trading for the former Hart Trophy winner, according to insider Elliotte Friedman on The FAN Hockey Show earlier this week.

“I think tires have been kicked between the two teams without knowing who initiated it,” Friedman said. He did not specify when those discussions took place.

There are two hurdles: whether the clubs can agree on a trade, and whether San Jose fits Hellebuyck’s goal of winning a Stanley Cup within the next two or three years.

The 33-year-old has been one of the NHL’s busiest goaltenders over the past decade, building an award case that includes three Vezina Trophies. Although he’s coming off a down season in Manitoba, he remains a proven No. 1 option.

Could California be his next destination? The Sharks missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs by just four points last season, and they should again be in the mix for a postseason berth next spring.

Hellebuyck would certainly help in that quest. San Jose has a goaltender of the future in Yaroslav Askarov, though he was up and down in 2025-26, posting a 3.63 goals-against average and .884 save percentage.

The Olympic gold medalist would give the Sharks a proven option in net. San Jose has already made several notable additions this offseason, bringing in Darnell Nurse, Jacob Trouba and Mason Marchment to complement a skilled young core.

Adding Hellebuyck would give the club an even bigger boost and signal that it intends to compete now. Friedman said San Jose ranks high on his list of teams that make sense as a potential destination, though Hellebuyck’s desired timeline for winning remains a question.

The salary cap presents another obstacle. The Sharks have just over $3 million in projected space, per PuckPedia, while Hellebuyck carries an $8.5 million cap hit for each of the next five seasons. San Jose would need to create room to accommodate a deal.

For now, the extent and timing of the clubs’ contact remain unclear. But with the 2026-27 season approaching and Hellebuyck still away from the Jets, San Jose is a team to watch.