What Jets want in potential Connor Hellebuyck trade

Connor Hellebuyck was heroic for Team USA at the Winter Olympics in Milan, but it was a forgettable campaign otherwise for the Winnipeg Jets goaltender.

After capturing the Presidents’ Trophy in 2024-25 as the NHL’s best regular-season team, the Jets followed it up with a disappointing 2025-26 campaign that ended without a playoff appearance, and the veteran netminder made it clear back in April that that was unacceptable.

The 33-year-old’s future in Winnipeg is now being questioned around the league, and general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff may be more willing to entertain trade discussions than previously believed, according to TSN insider Darren Dreger.

“Where there is smoke, often there is fire,” Dreger said on a segment of That’s Hockey with Gino Reda on Wednesday. “What I can tell you from Winnipeg’s standpoint is that Kevin Cheveldayoff is at least in a position where he knows he has to listen.”

The Jets are not believed to be actively shopping Hellebuyck, but Dreger indicated that rival clubs have been calling to gauge his availability.

The reason is simple: Winnipeg has several areas it would like to address heading into the 2026-27 season.

“You look at the needs that Winnipeg has, they very much want a No. 2 center, they’d like to add a depth center like a fourth center, they’d like to look at their blue line,” Dreger explained.

“If they trade Connor Hellebuyck, they’re going to have to pay some attention to their goaltending as well.”

Hellebuyck remains one of the NHL’s elite netminders, but his comments following the season fueled speculation about his long-term future with the organization. Goaltenders of his caliber rarely become available, even after what was considered a down season by his standards. He finished 2025-26 with a .895 save percentage and 2.86 goals-against average across 57 appearances.

Dreger noted that Winnipeg’s unique circumstances could make a blockbuster trade more appealing than usual.

“The unrestricted free agent market is so thin right now,” he said. “History tells us that Winnipeg struggles to make big trades because it’s hard to lure players with trade protection to Winnipeg.”

That reality means the Jets may need to capitalize on one of their most valuable assets if they want to significantly reshape the roster.

“But when you’ve got a Vezina Trophy-winning goalie who, granted, has a no-move clause, potentially in play, and teams are calling, if the Winnipeg Jets can improve their lineup by adding a No. 2 center, plus, plus, then I think Cheveldayoff is at least willing at this point to consider that.”

For now, Hellebuyck remains a Jet, but Winnipeg appears willing to consider moving one of the most important pieces on the roster — and all signs point to a bidding war if that happens.