Which teams could land Connor Hellebuyck?

While many people are excited about what is about to take shape at the 2026 NHL Draft, there are a significant number of people who are interested in seeing what could happen with one of the best goaltenders in the league.

For weeks leading up to the draft, there have been rumors that Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is open to a trade. While general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff hasn’t given a clear answer to whether that’s true, he noted that the team has been listening to offers on the three-time Vezina Trophy winner.

Landing Hellebuyck would be a huge get for any potential contending team in the NHL. He’s still at the top of his game and can bolster a team’s chances at making a deep playoff run. However, the trade would have to be approved by the Commerce, Mich. native, as he has a full no-move clause through next season.

On Friday’s edition of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Irf Gaffar joined Tyler Yaremchuk and Carter Hutton to explain the potential landing spots for Hellebuyck, should a deal come together.

Irf Gaffar: [Kevin] Cheveldayoff didn’t throw his goaltender under the bus there by saying he requested a trade…It was one of those things where basically it happened, and no one’s really going to say it. It’s going to be interesting. I don’t know how Florida makes it work. It would have to start with [Anton] Lundell, and I don’t think the Florida Panthers are ready to part ways with that player. I wouldn’t be either if I was the Florida Panthers. The Carolina Hurricanes. I know they won the Stanley Cup. I know Bussi, the story was incredible…but you get a guy and an opportunity to get Connor Hellebuyck between the pipes, and you’re going and looking at what the Florida Panthers just did, you’re looking at some other teams in the East that are going to do things, and you say, ‘How do we run this thing back?’

Well, you go get a Hart Trophy winner. You go get a Vezina Trophy winner. You go get a guy that’s probably going to come in really motivated to try and get things done here. So, I can see Hellebuyck going to that team and looking at what they currently have in front of him and being like, ‘I can do this, I can win here.’ Florida, obviously, is the interesting one. I just don’t know how they make that one work. Beyond that, there might be another couple of other teams that poke around, but I’d watch the Carolina Hurricanes.

You can watch the full segment and entire episode here...