Trade talks involving Winnipeg Jets star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck are reportedly accelerating, with the New Jersey Devils closing in on a potential deal to acquire the veteran netminder. The development comes as Hellebuyck’s team-issued suspension for failing to report to training camp is officially set to expire.
The friction between the organization and its franchise goaltender has been building for months following a disappointing 2025-26 campaign in which Winnipeg missed the Stanley Cup playoffs and finished with 82 points, the second-fewest in the Central Division. During exit interviews in April, Hellebuyck publicly expressed a desire to win a championship and warned that complacency could prevent the team from moving forward, noting that returning the exact same roster product would not yield different results.
While Hellebuyck initially stopped short of demanding a trade during his spring press conference, Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff confirmed in June that the organization was open to listening to offers following frank private discussions. A formal trade request eventually followed in August when Hellebuyck, through his agent, revealed he had approached management months earlier about a departure but decided to publicize the stance after a lack of movement.
The standoff escalated prior to training camp when Hellebuyck failed to report, prompting Winnipeg to issue a suspension that ultimately cost the goaltender $925,000 in forfeited salary. Cheveldayoff maintained throughout the absence that the player would be welcomed back whenever he decided to return.
Despite enduring a challenging 2025-26 season that saw him post a career-low .895 save percentage and a 2.86 goals-against average—a sharp departure from his NHL-best 2.00 mark during the 2024-25 campaign—Hellebuyck remains one of the league’s most decorated goaltenders. The 33-year-old is a three-time Vezina Trophy winner and captured the Hart Memorial Trophy in 2024-25 as the league’s most valuable player, becoming the first goaltender in a decade to claim the honor.
Negotiating a trade has involved significant hurdles, notably Hellebuyck’s no-movement clause, which granted him substantial control over his destination, alongside an $8.5 million average annual salary that narrowed the pool of potential suitors. Meanwhile, the Jets have opened the current season with a 4-3-3 record relying on Stuart Skinner as their primary starter.
Moving the star goaltender marks a major transition for Winnipeg, which stands to receive a substantial return in a trade while looking toward long-term roster reshaping and future development.
