Winnipeg Jets General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff confirmed that the team is listening to trade offers for star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. Hellebuyck, a three-time Vezina Trophy winner and Olympic hero for Team USA, has been the subject of trade speculation.
"Certainly, as an organization, we're going to listen," 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 had some frank conversations as well, but again, what happens in those meetings certainly stays private."
Hellebuyck is currently under contract through the 2030-31 NHL season, carrying an $8.5 million cap hit. Any team acquiring him would need to accommodate this contract.
The Jets missed the playoffs this past season after winning the Presidents' Trophy the previous year. Following the team's performance, Hellebuyck expressed his dissatisfaction.
"Complacency is not going to get us moving forward, so something has got to happen," he stated at his end-of-year media availability. "...A lot of times, that’s all you can ask (of teammates) — give your all every single night. As a teammate, I 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."
This offseason has seen several prominent players seeking to move from their current organizations, including Brady Tkachuk, Dylan Larkin, and Zach Werenski. The NHL Draft also saw a flurry of player movement, leading to speculation about which teams might pursue Hellebuyck, potentially those with salary cap constraints like Vegas or Florida.