Connor Hellebuyck, the Winnipeg Jets' three-time Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender, publicly confirmed Thursday that he has requested a trade from the team. The confirmation comes after months of speculation and as NHL training camps are set to open in approximately three weeks.
In a statement released by his agent, Ray Petkau, Hellebuyck indicated that the trade request was made several months ago. He stated his intention was to handle the situation quietly and respectfully while allowing the organization time to explore its options. Hellebuyck expressed that going public became important due to the approaching training camp and reiterated his belief that moving on is the best course of action for himself and his family, hoping for a swift resolution.
Hellebuyck, 33, has spent his entire NHL career with the Jets. He was named the league MVP for the 2024-25 season and backstopped the U.S. to a gold medal at the Olympics in February. Despite his individual accolades, the Jets have not achieved significant playoff success during his tenure, reaching the Western Conference final only once in 2018.
Trade rumors surrounding Hellebuyck intensified around the NHL draft in late June, but no deal materialized. Last season, Hellebuyck recorded a career-worst .895 save percentage and missed time due to injury, coinciding with the Jets' underperformance and failure to make the playoffs. However, his career statistics since entering the league in 2015—345 wins, a 2.58 goals-against average, and a .916 save percentage—rank second only to Andrei Vasilevskiy among NHL goaltenders.
Hellebuyck signed an eight-year, $59.5 million contract extension with the Jets in October 2023, which carries a salary cap hit of $8.5 million and runs through the 2031 season. He expressed gratitude for his time in Winnipeg and appreciation for the Jets fans throughout his career, stating that the city has been his home for his entire professional journey.