08/27/26 03:56:00
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08/27 15:55 CDT Winnipeg Jets star goalie and U.S. Olympian Connor Hellebuyck
goes public with trade request
Winnipeg Jets star goalie and U.S. Olympian Connor Hellebuyck goes public with
trade request
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) --- Three-time Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender Connor
Hellebuyck went public on Thursday in confirming he's asked the Winnipeg Jets
to trade him.
In a statement released by his agent, Ray Petkau, Hellebuyck said he made the
request several months ago and "tried to handle the situation quietly and
respectfully while giving the organization time to explore its options."
Hellebuyck said he felt it was important to go public because training camp is
fast approaching. Camps are set to open in roughly three weeks.
"My position has not changed, and I believe moving on is the best path forward
for me and my family," Hellebuyck said. "(I) hope a resolution can be reached
soon."
Hellebuyck, 33, has played his entire NHL career with the Jets and was voted
MVP in the 2024-25 season. He backstopped the U.S. to the gold medal at the
Olympics in February.
General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff acknowledged he's been working to trade the
player, but otherwise had no update.
"Connor has been open with us about his desire for a change. He has been an
important part of the Winnipeg Jets organization for many years, and we have
tremendous respect for what he has accomplished here," Cheveldayoff said in a
statement released by the team. "While we continue to work through the
situation in a thoughtful manner, there is no update at this time."
Trade rumors swirled about Hellebuyck in late June around the draft, but
nothing came to fruition. The Michigan native missed time because of injury and
had a career-worst .895 save percentage last season as Winnipeg underachieved
expectations and missed the playoffs.
But his track record and body of work are among the best at the position over
the past decade. His 345 wins, 2.58 goals-against average and .916 save
percentage since entering the league in 2015 are second only to Tampa Bay
two-time Stanley Cup champion Andrei Vasilevskiy.
Hellebuyck has not enjoyed the same postseason success as Vasilevskiy and the
Lightning. He's 24-34, with the Jets only making it past the second round and
into the Western Conference final once, back in 2018.
He signed an eight-year, $59.5 million extension with Winnipeg in October 2023.
He's under contract through 2031 at a salary cap hit of $8.5 million.
"Winnipeg has been my home for my entire NHL career, and I will always be
grateful for my time there," Hellebuyck said. "I appreciate everything Winnipeg
Jets fans have meant to me throughout my career."
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