Sharks, Jets Have Discussed A Connor Hellebuyck Trade

As Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck awaits a potential trade, one of the challenges at this point is finding teams that still have a need or a desire to swing for a big upgrade in goal.  Back at the draft when trade talks first leaked, teams had some openings and more payroll flexibility than they do now.

But that reality won’t stop some teams from at least inquiring about a trade.  It appears that the Sharks were one of them as Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman noted on The FAN Hockey Show (audio link) that the two sides have kicked the tires about a swap.  He added that it’s unclear which team initiated the discussion.

The 33-year-old has been one of the elite netminders in the NHL over the past decade, taking home three Vezina Trophies and being a finalist two other times.  Hellebuyck has led the league in games played in five of the last nine seasons and is a true workhorse at a time when a lot of teams are migrating more toward platoon approaches.  While he’s coming off a down year in Winnipeg, many expect that he will bounce back this season.

The link between the two teams is interesting in that San Jose already has what it feels should be their goalie of the future who just so happens to be their goalie of the present, Yaroslav Askarov.  His first full NHL season came in 2025-26 and while it was full of some ups and downs, it’s not often easy for young netminders to make their mark while the Sharks were still in rebuilding mode.

They’re clearly not now, following a summer spending spree that saw them add veterans Darnell Nurse, Jacob Trouba, and Mason Marchment to the fold.  With that, expectations have shifted to them being at least a team in the mix for a playoff spot.  Accordingly, the expectation is that Askarov should have a much-improved sophomore year.

But adding a proven piece in Hellebuyck would give San Jose an even bigger boost, assuming last season’s performance was a one-off and not a sign of things to come.  It would further signal their intent to try to win now and would give them a lift in a Pacific Division that could be in line for a bit of a shakeup this year.  With that in mind, it’s not surprising to hear that Sharks GM Mike Grier has at least entertained the possibility of a swap.

However, there are a couple of elements that could hold something like this up.  Friedman notes that Hellebuyck – who has full trade protection – may not see San Jose as the win-now environment that he’s seeking.  Unless that belief changes, any potential swap would be off the table right there.

On top of that, the salary cap could be an issue.  San Jose has a little over $3.3MM in cap room, per PuckPedia.  Hellebuyck carries an $8.5MM cap charge for the next half-decade while Askarov is on the final year of his bridge deal with an AAV of $2MM.  To get them into cap compliance, other players would need to be included as it’s fair to surmise that Winnipeg won’t be interested in paying down a significant portion of Hellebuyck’s deal to help facilitate a swap.

On the surface, it feels like there is somewhat of a logical connection between Hellebuyck and the Sharks.  However, there will be a lot of work to do as things stand before a trade becomes a viable option.