Winnipeg opened camp Thursday with its No. 1 goaltender absent, and Connor Hellebuyck’s trade request now sits at the center of the Jets’ preseason. The club suspended Hellebuyck after he did not report, while general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff continues to seek a return he believes matches the value of a franchise-defining goalie.
- Connor Hellebuyck was suspended by the Jets for failing to report to training camp.
- The 33-year-old goaltender publicly confirmed Aug. 27 that he had asked for a trade earlier in the offseason.
- Hellebuyck has five years left on the seven-year, $59.5 million contract he signed Oct. 9, 2023. The deal carries an $8.5 million annual cap hit.
- Winnipeg signed Stuart Skinner on July 1 to a two-year, $7.5 million contract, worth $3.75 million per season. Skinner helped the Edmonton Oilers reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2024 and 2025.
- Kyle Connor said the room was disappointed by the development but viewed it as another challenge for a club looking to rebound from last season.
- The Jets went 35-35-12 and missed the playoffs after claiming the Presidents’ Trophy in 2024-25.
Cheveldayoff made clear that Hellebuyck will not be moved simply to end the standoff. The Jets are exploring a deal that can help the current roster, rather than one built around distant draft picks or a long rebuild.
“I have to keep an even approach,” Cheveldayoff said. “Emotion cannot drive any part of this. The goal is to find a player or players who can move the organization ahead in a different way.”
He said Hellebuyck remains part of the organization until a trade is completed, but stressed that the club’s responsibility is to its players and fans. Cheveldayoff pointed to Connor, Mark Scheifele, Josh Morrissey and Dylan Samberg as core members committed to Winnipeg, saying the message cannot be that help is years down the road.
Connor, speaking after the suspension was announced, said teammates were hurting over the absence of a player who has been around the club for so long. Still, he said the group has dealt with setbacks before and must respond on the ice.
“It is hard,” Connor said. “A lot of guys in that room are disappointed. But we have faced adversity, including injuries, and this is a chance for everyone to raise their game. We know what last year was, and we know we need to be better.”
Hellebuyck’s position has not changed. In his statement released through agent Ray Petkau, he said he had tried to keep the matter private while allowing Winnipeg time to examine options. With camp nearing, he said he felt it was necessary to confirm the request publicly and believes a move is best for him and his family.
The scale of the decision is clear in the Jets record book. Since Winnipeg selected Hellebuyck in the fifth round, No. 130 overall, in the 2012 NHL Draft, he has become the club’s career leader among qualifying goaltenders in victories, save percentage, goals-against average and shutouts. He has posted 345 wins, a .916 save percentage, a 2.58 goals-against average and 45 shutouts over 625 regular-season appearances, including 615 starts.
He is also a three-time Vezina Trophy winner, taking home the award in 2020, 2024 and 2025. During Winnipeg’s Presidents’ Trophy season in 2024-25, Hellebuyck also won the Hart Trophy after going 47-12-3 with a 2.00 goals-against average, a .925 save percentage and eight shutouts in 63 games.
For now, the Jets have Skinner in camp and their longtime starter away from the rink. Cheveldayoff said there is no deadline he is working against beyond getting the return right.
“This is not really about a clock,” Cheveldayoff said. “We are discussing a player who has meant a great deal to this franchise and who remains an elite NHL player. The return has to reflect that.”
