Connor Hellebuyck’s future in Winnipeg is suddenly wide open, and the list of possible landing spots is starting to take shape.
Hellebuyck said in a public statement that he privately asked for a trade several months ago and believes a move is the best choice for his family. The Jets have also acknowledged that they are taking calls on their franchise goaltender.
Even with the situation turning, the 33-year-old still looks like one of the NHL’s top goalies. In 2025-26, he went 37-25-2 with a .920 save percentage and a 2.49 goals-against average across 64 appearances. The catch is obvious: he has five seasons left on an $8.5 million cap hit, and his full no-movement clause gives him major say in where he ends up.
Because Hellebuyck was born in Michigan, a move back to the United States now feels like the likeliest path. Buffalo, Carolina and New Jersey stand out as the leading options, with Pittsburgh sitting there as the surprise name.
The Buffalo Sabres may be the cleanest fit on paper. Reportedly, Buffalo and Winnipeg already discussed a Hellebuyck deal around the 2026 NHL Draft, though they couldn’t line up on the return.
The Sabres won the Atlantic Division last season, but their playoff goaltending became a concern when Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen lost the net to Alex Lyon. Hellebuyck would instantly give them the proven No. 1 presence they need to be taken seriously as a Stanley Cup threat.
The hurdle is finding a trade package that works without hollowing out Buffalo’s roster.
Carolina is another team that makes plenty of sense. The Hurricanes have long been one of the league’s best defensive clubs, but the crease has remained a question mark.
Pyotr Kochetkov played just nine games last season before surgery, which leaves his health and workload as real concerns. Hellebuyck behind that system could be the piece that puts Carolina over the top, and the team’s win-now posture makes the contract easier to swallow.
New Jersey also belongs in the conversation. With Jacob Markstrom gone, the Devils’ goaltending group now includes Jake Allen, Nico Daws and David Rittich.
Allen is expected to open the season as the starter, but Hellebuyck would be a major upgrade. Given the core already in place, New Jersey should be digging into what it would take to land an elite goalie.
And then there’s Pittsburgh, which shouldn’t be dismissed. The Penguins have young options in Sergei Murashov and Joel Blomqvist, but Hellebuyck could give Sidney Crosby and the rest of the veteran group one more real shot to contend.
In Other News...
Hurricanes National TV Slate Says Everything About Expectations For This Team
The national spotlight is only getting brighter for Carolina. The Hurricanes are lined up for 12 nationally televised games in the 2026-27 NHL season, a bump from the previous year that fits the way the league now treats them as one of its more dependable draws. ESPN, TNT and the streaming side of the schedule will all be in the mix, and the slate leans noticeably heavier after the new year, when the standings and the playoff race tend to sharpen the stakes.
Carolina will also see a spread of familiar and fresh matchups on those showcases, with nine different opponents appearing on the national schedule. The New York Islanders stand out most, with three of the four meetings between the teams set to land on a national broadcast, a sign that the Hurricanes are once again being placed in the kind of games that can shape how the rest of the league sees them. [Read more 🡒]