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This has been one of the most unusual first offseasons in the NHL. Instead of focusing on free agency, much of the attention has been on star players looking to leave their current organizations.
Ottawa has already sent Brady Tkachuk to Florida. Meanwhile, Dylan Larkin has asked to leave Detroit, and Zach Werenski’s future in Columbus appears uncertain.
The biggest potential name that could move is Winnipeg Jets goaltender and Team USA Olympic hero Connor Hellebuyck. Now, the team’s general manager has confirmed that he is at least listening to offers from any potential trade partners.
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Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff confirmed the team is listening to offers for star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. (Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images)
“Certainly, as an organization, we’re going to listen,” Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said, according to NHL.com. “Everyone saw (Hellebuyck’s) press conference at the end of the year; he was passionate. Certainly, in our exit meetings we also had frank conversations, but again, what happens in those meetings certainly remains private.”
Hellebuyck is under contract through 2031 and carries a cap hit of $8.5 million, meaning any trade partner would have to give up a lot.
But it’s not every day that a team can sign a generation-first goaltender with three Vezina Trophies under his belt, so it would probably be worth it.
WHO IS CONNOR HELLEBUYCK? TEAM USA GOALKEEPER RECEIVES PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM AFTER OLYMPIC GOLD
Connor Hellebuyck’s current contract runs through the 2030-31 NHL season. (James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images)
The Jets took a huge step backwards this season by completely missing the playoffs after winning the Presidents’ Trophy the previous season.
This led to some critical remarks from the future Medal of Freedom recipient during his year-end media availability.
Connor Hellebuyck of Team USA celebrates a 2-1 overtime win over Canada for the gold medal during the men’s gold medal game at the Milano Santagiulia ice hockey arena in Milan, Italy, February 22, 2026. (Grégory Shamus/Getty Images)
“Complacency won’t move us forward, so something has to happen,” he said. “…A lot of times, that’s all you can ask (of your teammates): to give it your all every night. As a teammate, I can really rally behind that and really cherish those moments with those guys. But putting that same product on the ice, I don’t think it worked for a reason.”
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There was a flurry of movement in the NHL draft Friday night, and there are questions about whether some teams that could take a chance on Hellebuyck but are up against the salary cap — like Vegas or Florida — could put their ducks in a row to make an offer.
