Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck has not talked about many things this off-season. He has been with Winnipeg since the 2015-2016 NHL season. With Hellebuyck being 33 years old and winning a Gold Medal for Team U.S.A. in the Winter Olympics in 2026, things have changed for his NHL career.
DALLAS, TEXAS – MAY 17: Connor Hellebuyck #37 of the Winnipeg Jets makes a save against Sam Steel #18 of the Dallas Stars during the third period in Game Six of the Second Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center on May 17, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
He has decided to request a trade from Winnipeg, and this was announced on Thursday. The Jets missed the playoffs last season after making the playoffs the prior year. As the 2026-2027 season approaches, it will be interesting to see which NHL teams could potentially want to trade for him. Hellebuyck is going to want to go to a possible contender.
Carolina Hurricanes Might be the Top Target For Winnipeg Jets Goalie Connor Hellebuyck
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 22: (EDITOR’S NOTE: Image was captured using a remote netcam.) Connor Hellebuyck #37 and Charlie McAvoy #25 of Team United States react after after a safe in the third period during the Men’s Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Mike Segar – Pool/Getty Images)
The Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup last season with Frederik Andersen being the primary goalie, but Brandon Bussi had to finish the final three games of the series because of Andersen being injured. As the 2026-2027 NHL season approaches, Andersen is no longer on the team and Bussi could be the starter, but it feels as if Carolina will be playing musical goalies once again.
Pyotr Kochetkov is another goalie on the Hurricanes that could have the potential to be a starter, but Carolina might be better off trading for Hellebuyck. They have the draft capital and the prospects to give Winnipeg. The Hurricanes also have the cap space to make this trade work as well. Carolina had the second-best record last season, and this would help their chances of going back-to-back.
Buffalo Sabres
Alex Lyon and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen were the goalies for the Buffalo Sabres during the playoffs last season. Buffalo defeated the Boston Bruins in the first round and lost to the Montreal Canadiens in the second round. Before the 2025-2026 season, there were rumors floating around that the Sabres were going to acquire Hellebuyck in a trade. It is very possible that he would want to go to Buffalo since they are in position to win now.
Hellebuyck in 57 games last season had a 23-23-11 record with a 2.86 GAA and a .895 save percentage, along with zero shutouts. A change of scenery would no doubt help him. Buffalo would be an interesting place for him to go. It could help the Sabres odds to win it all next season.
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are going to have to do some maneuvering with the cap space in order to acquire Hellebuyck. Jake Allen, Nico Daws, and David Rittich are the current goalies on New Jersey’s roster. That is not an ideal situation for New Jersey. Jacob Markstrom was traded to the Florida Panthers in the off-season. If the Devils want to make the playoffs and not waste another year of Jack Hughes, then they need to make this trade for the Jets goalie here.
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