- Connor Hellebuyck confirmed he asked the Jets for a trade several months ago
- Agent Ray Petkau released the statement Thursday with training camp weeks out
- Read below for the full statement, the contract math and where this started in April
Connor Hellebuyck wants out of Winnipeg, and now he has put his own name on it.
The goaltender released a statement Thursday through his agent, Ray Petkau, confirming that he asked the Jets for a trade earlier this year and has not budged since.
“Several months ago, I privately requested a trade. I have tried to handle the situation quietly and respectfully while giving the organization time to explore its options.”
He also explained why he decided to say it out loud now, with the roster due back in a few weeks.
“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.”
Here’s the full statement:
The tone is not scorched earth. Hellebuyck opened by calling Winnipeg his home for his entire NHL career and thanked the fans, and he name-checked June 23, 2012, the day the Jets drafted a goalie playing in Odessa, Texas.
None of this arrived out of nowhere. The Jets won the Presidents’ Trophy in 2025, then became the fifth team in league history to miss the playoffs the year after finishing with the best record.
Reporters asked Hellebuyck about the future of the roster during his end-of-season media availability in April, and he did not pretend he was fine with any of it.
“For me, it’s winning a Stanley Cup. That’s my goal and that’s all I have left. That’s what I want on my resume. I don’t play this game for the money. I don’t play it for the fame.”
Watch the full availability:
Kevin Cheveldayoff would not confirm a request when he spoke to reporters over Zoom in late June, but the general manager did say the Jets were taking calls.
“Well, obviously what I’ve been hearing hasn’t made me act. I guess the best answer is I’m still listening.”
Money is the complication. Hellebuyck signed a seven-year extension in October 2023 that carries an $8.5 million cap hit, five seasons remain on it, and he holds full trade protection.
Last season handed the skeptics something to chew on. The 33-year-old went 23-23-11 with a 2.86 goals-against average and a .895 save percentage, the first sub-.900 mark of his career, around knee surgery in November.
Then he won Olympic gold with the United States in February, the country’s first since 1980. That is the version of him teams are calling about, and it is the version that swept the Hart, Vezina and Jennings in 2025.
Winnipeg already lined up a fallback in net, signing Stuart Skinner on the first day of free agency. A blockbuster with Buffalo fell apart before the draft, and nothing has come close since, with the asking price widely pegged as the holdup.
Cheveldayoff has said all summer that he is listening. His starting goaltender just made sure every general manager in the league heard it too.
