Jets star goalie Connor Hellebuyck requests trade: Where three-time Vezina Trophy winner could land — CBS Sports

RESOLVING THE LEDGER

Jets star goalie Connor Hellebuyck requests trade: Where three-time Vezina Trophy winner could land — CBS Sports | AIPROPX

After months of speculation about his future in Winnipeg, Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has confirmed his trade request publicly.

Hellebuyck's name has come up in trade rumors since the 2025-26 season ended, and the rumor mill will only pick back up now that he's gone public with his request. NHL training camps will open soon, and Hellebuyck wanted to provide more clarity on the situation.

"Winnipeg has been home for my entire NHL career, and I will always be grateful for my time there.

"I have never forgotten June 23, 2012. That's the day Winnipeg took a chance on a goalie playing in Odessa, Texas. I gave everything I had from that moment to prove the Jets made the right decision.

"Several months ago, I privately requested a trade. I have tried to handle the situation quietly and respectfully while giving the organization time to explore its options.

"With training camp approaching, I felt it was important to publicly confirm my request. My position has not changed, and I believe moving on is the best path forward for me and my family.

"I appreciate everything Winnipeg Jets fans have meant to me throughout my career and hope a resolution can be reached soon."

In what would become one of the biggest steals in NHL Draft history, the Jets used the No. 130 overall pick to select Hellebucyk in 2012. Just seven years later, Hellebuyck established himself as one of the best goalies in the lea, and he's maintained that level of play for nearly a decade.

A three-time Vezina Trophy winner, Hellebuyck has a legitimate claim as the best goaltender in the world. Over the last three seasons, Hellebucyk has totaled 73.4 goals saved above average, per Natural Stat Trick . That's 20 more than the next closest goaltender -- Andrei Vasilevskiy -- and includes a rather underwhelming 2025-26 campaign.

There have been plenty of years in which Hellebuyck carried mediocre Jets teams, but 2025-26 was not one of them. He actually allowed 0.35 goals above average with a pedestrian 0.895 save percentage. Normally, it would be fair to worry about a 33-year-old goalie with those numbers, but not in Hellebucyk's case.

Hellebuyck backstopped Team USA to its first men's ice hockey gold medal in 46 years at the 2026 Olympics while allowing a total of six goals and boasting a .956 save percentage. He was exceptional in the final against Canada, where he turned away 41 of the 42 shots he faced and made one of the most iconic saves in hockey history.

THAT WAS ONE HELLE-BUYCK OF A STOP. 😳 pic.twitter.com/N3wCimdBGw

The biggest obstacle in a trade might be Hellebucyk's contract. He has five years remaining on his current deal at $8.5 million per season -- and while that may be a lot of term for a goalie his age -- Hellebucyk is worth a lot more than that at his best. The real issue is that he owns a full no-movement clause, which means Hellebuyck controls his fate, and the trade request going public certainly won't improve the team's leverage.

So, where does Hellebucyk land? Without knowing his preferred destinations, it's probably safe to assume that he wants the opportunity to win a Stanley Cup, and the team that acquires him will need the requisite cap space and resources to do so.

With those parameters in mind, here are five teams that could make sense as Hellebuyck trade suitors.

The Sabres were one of two teams frequently connected to Hellebuyck earlier in the offseason, and that makes sense. Buffalo is an ascending team with room to upgrade in the crease. Not to denigrate Alex Lyon and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who were a formidable tandem in 2025-26, but I'm not sure Buffalo can bet on similar performances this upcoming season. Adding Hellebuyck would eliminate that question mark immediately and make the Sabres a favorite to win the Atlantic Division.

In fact, one of Luukkonen or Lyon could go back to Winnipeg to help provide stability in the post-Hellebuyck era. The Sabres also own all their first-round picks for the foreseeable future, and it would probably take at least two of those to pry Hellebuyck from the Jets. Just a year ago, it would be hard to believe that Hellebuyck would waive his no-movement clause to go to Buffalo, but it seems very plausible now.

When the Devils traded Jacob Markstrom to the Florida Panthers in July, I assumed it would only be a matter of time until Hellebuyck was in Newark. To this point, nothing has come to fruition, but New Jersey absolutely needs an NHL-caliber starter. Jake Allen, David Rittich and Nico Daws are on the roster right now, and that won't get the job done.

The Devils were undone by poor goaltending -- and subpar defense -- too much last year. Markstrom allowed 13.7 goals above average, per Natural Stat Trick, and even a diminished version of Hellebuyck would provide a significant upgrade over those numbers. New Jersey has the draft capital to get something done, but it also needs to clear cap space, possibly with a Dougie Hamilton salary dump.

They just won the Stanley Cup with Brandon Bussi in net, so the Hurricanes have proven they don't need elite goaltending to go all the way. Regardless, running it back with Bussi wouldn't be a very safe bet, and adding Hellebuyck would only reinforce Carolina's biggest strength. As we saw in the playoffs, the Hurricanes are already one of the best defensive teams in the league. Put Hellebuyck behind that lineup, and scoring on Carolina becomes a Herculean task.

Thanks to savvy cap management by GM Eric Tulsky, Carolina has the room to add Hellebuyck without jettisoning a current player. Oh, and Carolina has three first-round picks over the next two years. If Tulsky wants to pursue Hellebuyck, he has the resources to do it.

This is more of a longshot, but it would be fun to see the Sharks take a swing if this, assuming Hellebuyck would sign off on a trade to San Jose. Despite the fact that they overpaid for it, the Sharks blue line is better, and there is a wealth of young talent at forward. Another fact...