Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck goes public with trade request
The 2025 Hart Trophy winner said he asked Winnipeg for a trade months ago but went public as training camp approaches.
Connor Hellebuyck, the NHL's reigning Hart Trophy winner and a three-time goaltender of the year, has publicly requested a trade from the Winnipeg Jets. In a statement posted Thursday on his agent's X account, Hellebuyck said he privately asked to be dealt "several months ago" and had hoped the situation could be resolved quietly before going public.
Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff had said before June's draft that he was fielding offers for the 33-year-old, though he did not confirm at the time that Hellebuyck had requested a move. Hellebuyck led Winnipeg to the NHL's best regular-season record in 2024-25, capturing both the Hart and his third Vezina Trophy, but slipped to a 23-23-11 record last season. He also helped the United States win gold at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.
Over 625 career games with the Jets, Hellebuyck holds a 345-208-55 record with a 2.58 goals-against average and 45 shutouts. He is signed through 2031 at an $8.5-million cap hit.
He becomes the latest American star to seek a trade from a Canadian NHL club, following Brady Tkachuk's exit from Ottawa, his brother Matthew Tkachuk's departure from Calgary, and Quinn Hughes leaving Vancouver.
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