Hellebuyck confirms he requested trade from Jets

Connor Hellebuyck publicly confirmed Thursday that he asked the Winnipeg Jets to trade him. In a statement released by his agent, Ray Petkau, Hellebuyck said he made the request several months ago and "tried to handle the situation quietly and respectfully while giving the organization time to explore its options." He said he felt it was important to go public because training camp is fast approaching, with camps set to open in roughly three weeks.

"My position has not changed, and I believe moving on is the best path forward for me and my family," Hellebuyck said. "(I) hope a resolution can be reached soon." A team spokesperson did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. Trade rumors swirled about Hellebuyck in late June around the draft, but nothing came to fruition.

Hellebuyck, 33, has played his entire NHL career with the Jets. He is a three-time Vezina Trophy winner and was voted MVP in the 2024-25 season. He backstopped the U.S. to the gold medal at the Olympics in February. Last season he missed time because of injury and had a career-worst .895 save percentage as Winnipeg underachieved expectations and missed the playoffs.

Since entering the league in 2015, Hellebuyck has 345 wins, a 2.58 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage, figures second only to Tampa Bay's Andrei Vasilevskiy. He has not enjoyed the same postseason success as Vasilevskiy, going 24-34 in the playoffs, with the Jets making it past the second round only once, reaching the Western Conference final in 2018.

Hellebuyck signed an eight-year, $59.5 million extension with Winnipeg in October 2023 and is under contract through 2031 at a salary cap hit of $8.5 million. "Winnipeg has been my home for my entire NHL career, and I will always be grateful for my time there," he said. "I appreciate everything Winnipeg Jets fans have meant to me throughout my career."