A year after the Winnipeg Jets won the Presidents’ Trophy, they missed the playoffs in 2025-26. As the team prepares for the 2026-27 season, the Jets have already re-signed one netminder, as Isaac Poulter got a one-year deal.
Now, another goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck, has his future with the team in doubt, as he may be traded, according to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period.
“It is possible a team like the New Jersey Devils comes calling, as they are also shopping goalie Jacob Markstrom and could move him to another club instead of in a deal for Hellebuyck,” The Fourth Period reported. “Trade chatter surrounding the three-time Vezina winner is expected to pick up this week, leading up to the NHL Draft, which begins on Friday.”
Hellebuyck has been one of the best goaltenders in the NHL in recent years. He is coming off a 23-23-11 season with a 2.86 goals against average and a .895 save percentage, which is one of the worst seasons he has had in his career. Still, he regularly has been over 35 wins with a .910 save percetnage in his career. He also won the Vezina Trophy in 2020, 2024, and 2025, while winning the Hart Memorial Trophy in 2025 and a Gold Medal at the Olympics this year.
While he has been a top goaltender in the NHL, the Jets may be willing to move him in order to improve the team as a whole. That is what general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff is focused on.
“Complacency is not going to get us moving forward, so something has got to happen,” he said. “I’m not going to just sit here and throw every guy under the bus because honestly, I’m a goalie and I know goaltending really well. I can’t say, ‘This forward did this and that defense did that.’ That’s not my spot. I believe in every guy in giving their A-plus effort every single night. A lot of times, that’s all you can ask – give your all every single night. As a teammate, l can really rally behind that and really cherish those moments with those guys. But to just put that same product on the ice, I don’t think it worked for a reason.”
With the NHL Draft coming up on Friday, a move for Hellebuyck could happen sooner rather than later.
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