​Connor Hellebuyck’s future with the Winnipeg Jets looks increasingly uncertain as trade chatter swells across the NHL. It all began with Hellebuyck’s blunt assessment of the Jets’ 2025-26 season, which he called “unacceptable.” Since then, an array of offseason moves has only deepened the sense that a parting of ways is approaching.
In a Winnipeg Free Press column, veteran Jets scribe Mike McIntyre expressed a near-certainty that Hellebuyck will be moved, placing the odds well above 95 percent. He stressed that the exact timing and destination remain unknown, but the trajectory is clear. McIntyre highlighted recent roster decisions as signs of a franchise pivoting toward a future beyond its franchise goaltender. The Jets’ choice to let Eric Comrie depart for San Jose, followed by the signing of Stuart Skinner to a two-year, $7.5 million contract, signals a shift in how Winnipeg plans to handle goaltending going forward. Skinner’s arrival, in McIntyre’s view, provides an experienced starter while the organization prepares for life after Hellebuyck, suggesting general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff is steering the team toward a major transition.
Hellebuyck has not publicly requested a trade, but ongoing reporting continues to tie him to teams with stronger Cup aspirations. Buffalo remains a prominent possibility, with talk that discussions nearly reached fruition before the 2026 NHL Draft. Negotiations reportedly stalled, however, because Winnipeg sought Buffalo’s fourth overall pick without yielding its own top-10 selection. The impression is that Cheveldayoff is seeking a substantial return: a second-line center, a second-line winger, and a premium prospect or young goaltender. That kind of package would reflect Hellebuyck’s value, especially after a challenging 2025-26 season.
On the ice, Hellebuyck’s numbers reflected a tough year. He posted a 23-23-11 record, .895 save percentage, and a 2.86 goals-against average, and he went without a shutout for the first time in his NHL career as Winnipeg’s defense struggled. Yet his performance at the Olympics told a contrasting story. Leading Team USA to the gold medal at the 2026 Winter Games, he stopped 41 of 42 shots in a 2-1 overtime victory over Canada, finishing with the tournament’s best save percentage (.956) and earning Goaltender of the Tournament honors.
McIntyre still rates Buffalo as the most logical destination, but he has also started to regard San Jose as a serious alternative. “I still believe Buffalo is the most logical landing spot, but I also keep coming back to San Jose as a suitable destination,” he wrote. “They are my two favourites, with Carolina a distant third.”
As Winnipeg weighs its options, the Jets face a pivotal decision. Retaining Hellebuyck could be a strategy aimed at potentially commanding a larger package later, should negotiations with suitors intensify or a match-worthy offer arise. Yet the growing sense across the league is that a transition in goal is imminent, and Hellebuyck’s eventual destination may be revealed in the coming weeks or months as the Jets pursue a broader rebuild or retool under Cheveldayoff’s watch.