A Summer of Waiting—and Nothing Done
Connor Hellebuyck is still a Winnipeg Jet. More than three weeks past the NHL Draft and with training camp roughly six weeks away, the three-time Vezina Trophy winner remains in place despite a summer of persistent trade speculation. The Jets' asking price has proved too steep for every suitor, and the field has narrowed to two: the Buffalo Sabres and the Carolina Hurricanes.
The clearest signal that a trade is at least plausible came from Winnipeg itself. The Jets did not re-sign backup goaltender Eric Comrie and instead acquired Stuart Skinner, a move widely read as preparation for life after Hellebuyck. More notably, the 33-year-old was absent from the team's promotional materials when the 2026-27 schedule was released in mid-July—a silence that did not go unnoticed.
The Sabres Were Closest—Then It Fell Apart
Buffalo emerged as the frontrunner during NHL Draft week, with a reported package of goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, forward Jack Quinn, the No. 4 overall pick and additional assets. The deal collapsed hours before the first round began, reportedly because Luukkonen refused to waive his no-trade clause—a right that vested on July 1.
Negotiations continued through July, but the gap has remained wide. According to multiple reports, the Jets pushed for Zach Benson—Buffalo's most prized young forward—as part of any agreement. The Sabres' response was reported to be blunt: "That's not happening." Without Benson in the package, GM Kevin Cheveldayoff has shown little inclination to lower the price.
Hellebuyck holds a full no-movement clause through the 2026-27 season, meaning he must approve any trade personally. He has reportedly indicated he would waive it for Buffalo. Carolina, by contrast, has not received the same green light from the goaltender.
Carolina's Offer Came Up Short
The Hurricanes entered the race with a package centred on defenseman Alexander Nikishin and a first-round pick—an offer Winnipeg rejected. Without Hellebuyck's willingness to accept Carolina as a destination, the Hurricanes' room to manoeuvre is structurally limited: the Jets cannot trade him there even if a deal is otherwise struck.
Analysts are split on the outcome. Winnipeg Free Press columnist Mike McIntyre has placed the probability of a Hellebuyck trade at "north of 95 percent," pointing to the Skinner acquisition and Comrie's departure as evidence of Cheveldayoff planning for a new era in goal. Winnipeg Sun columnist Massimo De Luca-Taronno holds the opposite view: with no deal materialising by late July, he believes it is "increasingly likely" Hellebuyck simply reports to training camp in September—and the Jets go from there.
A Contract That Complicates Everything
Hellebuyck carries a cap hit of $8.5 million per season through the 2030-31 campaign—five full years remaining on the deal. That length and cost demand a significant return, which is precisely why Cheveldayoff has not accepted half-measures. The no-movement clause converts to a 10-team trade list in the summer of 2027, giving the Jets marginally more flexibility if they wait—but at the cost of another season of uncertainty and a roster built around a player whose future in the city is openly in doubt.
Hellebuyck called Winnipeg's 2026 season "unacceptable" after the Jets missed the playoffs. That dissatisfaction has fuelled the trade speculation, yet the goaltender has not formally requested a trade in the way Dylan Larkin did in Detroit. He remains a Jet for now—and unless Buffalo blinks on Benson, or a new bidder enters the market, he may still be one when camp opens in September.