Lowry Breaks Silence: Hellebuyck Expected to Show Up
The standoff between Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and the organization entered a new phase this week when Jets captain Adam Lowry confirmed that the three-time Vezina Trophy winner is expected to report to training camp despite his unresolved trade request. Veteran camps open across the league between September 16 and 17 for most clubs — meaning the window for a pre-camp deal is measured in days, not weeks.
Hellebuyck made his demand public on August 28, releasing a statement saying he had privately sought a trade earlier in the summer and felt it was "important to publicly confirm" his position with camp approaching. The Jets responded through general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff, who pledged to work through the situation "in a thoughtful manner" while offering no timetable or indication of progress. Lowry's comments this week are the first sign from inside the locker room that the team is preparing to absorb the situation — at least in the short term.
Sabres Still in Play — Devils Now Enter the Frame
The most widely reported destination remains the Buffalo Sabres. Talks between the two clubs surfaced ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft in June, with reports indicating Hellebuyck was willing to waive his no-movement clause to join Buffalo. The deal fell apart before draft weekend, but multiple outlets report that the Sabres retain serious interest and have not stepped back from negotiations.
The New Jersey Devils have since been identified as an alternative suitor. Their salary-cap flexibility is limited, however, complicating any package that would need to absorb Hellebuyck's $8.5 million average annual value through 2030–31. Because Hellebuyck holds a full no-movement clause, he can effectively veto a destination he does not approve of, concentrating leverage in his hands and narrowing the Jets' options further.
A Career-Worst Season Complicates Valuation
Both the Jets and any prospective trading partners face a difficult pricing question. Hellebuyck, 32, posted the worst numbers of his career in 2025–26: a .895 save percentage, a 2.86 goals-against average, and a 23–23–11 record as Winnipeg missed the playoffs. The decline was steep relative to the form that earned him three Vezina Trophies — the last of which triggered the contract that now makes him so difficult to move.
Whether that drop reflects a correctable blip or the start of a steeper decline will shape what the Jets can demand in return, and whether Buffalo or New Jersey will pay that price. The Jets hold the contractual leverage; Hellebuyck holds the personal leverage. Neither side has an obvious reason to cave quickly.
The Clock Is Running — But Not Out Yet
Detroit's parallel saga offers a useful reference point. Dylan Larkin, who also requested a trade this summer, is similarly expected to appear at Red Wings camp — with Detroit still searching for a permanent general manager after Steve Yzerman stepped down in July. In Winnipeg's case, Cheveldayoff has full authority to pull the trigger on a deal; the hold-up is finding terms both sides accept.
If Hellebuyck suits up at camp on roughly September 16 with no deal done, both parties enter a prolonged holding pattern. The regular season begins September 29 — the first 84-game campaign in the NHL in more than three decades — and the trade market goes quiet until at least December once it opens. Buffalo and New Jersey have a narrow corridor of days to change that math.