Hellebuyck Trade Market Down to Three Clubs, Insider Says
Connor Hellebuyck has asked Winnipeg to move him and was later suspended without pay after he did not report to training camp. According to insider David Pagnotta, Carolina, Utah, and Buffalo are the remaining possible landing spots, while Los Angeles has been floated as a less likely option. Winnipeg is seeking a proven NHL contributor in return and has no urgency to deal him, especially with Stuart Skinner and Clay Stevenson helping the team to a 3-0-1 start.
Hellebuyck's situation escalated from a spring trade request to a public stance in August and an unpaid suspension in September after he skipped camp. Pagnotta now lists Carolina, Utah, and Buffalo as the clubs still in play, with Los Angeles only a speculative alternative.
Winnipeg's price remains at least one established NHL impact player, ideally with more pieces attached. The Jets can be patient because Skinner and Stevenson have backstopped a 3-0-1 start; Skinner made 32 saves on 34 shots versus Colorado. Hellebuyck is in year three of a seven-year deal that counts $8.5 million against the cap through 2030-31.
The Hellebuyck standoff could affect more than the standings. Winnipeg fans and teammates may feel uncertainty while the roster remains unresolved, and opposing clubs might adjust their own goaltending plans if a trade materializes. A prolonged impasse may also shape how players and teams handle contract leverage and no-move protections, though broader societal effects would likely remain limited to the hockey world.