By Field Level Media
Aug 28 (Field Level Media) – Three-time Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck, who has spent his entire NHL career with the Winnipeg Jets, has made public his desire to be traded.
Hellebuyck, starting goaltender on the United States’ gold-medal squad at the Winter Olympics in February, released a statement Thursday through his agent, Ray Petkau, on social media.
“Several months ago, I privately requested a trade,” Hellebuyck, 33, said on Petkau’s X account. “I have tried to handle the situation quietly and respectfully while giving the organization time to explore its options. With training camp approaching, I felt it was important to publicly confirm my request. My position has not changed, and I believe moving on is the best path forward for me and my family.
“I appreciate everything Winnipeg Jets fans have meant to me throughout my career and hope that a resolution can be reached soon.”
Winnipeg plays its first preseason game Sept. 19 at the Edmonton Oilers and opens the regular season Oct. 2 against the visiting Boston Bruins.
Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff responded Thursday with a statement.
“Connor has been open with us about his desire for a change,” Cheveldayoff said. “He has been an important part of the Winnipeg Jets organization for many years, and we have tremendous respect for what he has accomplished here. While we will continue to work through the situation in a thoughtful manner, there is no update at this time.”
Hellebuyck is entering the third year of a seven-year, $59.5 million contract extension he signed in October 2023 that averages $8.5 million per year.
He collected the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goaltender in the 2019-20, 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, and the Hart Memorial Trophy as league MVP in 2024-25. He also was awarded the William M. Jennings Trophy as the goaltender with the fewest goals allowed in the regular season in 2023-24 and 2024-25.
Hellebuyck was 23-23-11 last season with a 2.86 goals-against average and a career-worst .895 save percentage in 57 games. The Jets missed the playoffs.
He led the league in GAA in 2024-25 (2.00), when he was 47-12-3 with a .925 save percentage and eight shutouts in 63 games as the Jets won the Presidents’ Trophy for the league’s best record (56-22-4).
For his 11-year career, Hellebuyck is 345-208-44 with a .916 save percentage and 2.58 GAA in 625 regular-season games (615 starts). He is 24-34 with a .903 save percentage and 2.90 GAA in 58 playoff games (all starts).
He was selected as an All-Star in 2018, 2020, 2023 and 2024. He made the NHL All-Star Team’s first team in the 2019-20, 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, and the second team in 2017-18.
Winnipeg selected the Michigan native in the fifth round of the 2012 NHL Draft.
The Jets also have goalie Stuart Skinner, who signed a two-year, $7.5 million contract July 1.
(–Field Level Media)
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