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...
Devils Just Got A Bigger National Stage Than Fans Expected
The NHLs newly released national broadcast schedule gives the Devils a much bigger spotlight than some around the team probably expected heading into the season. New Jersey landed 12 nationally televised games, which ties it for 15th-most in the league, and the opener against the Flyers will be easy to find on ESPN+, Hulu and Disney+. Theres also a healthy mix of showcase matchups beyond the Metro, with games against the Red Wings and Wild among the ones slated for national coverage.
For a team trying to build momentum and attention beyond its own market, the distribution matters as much as the total. Most of the Devils featured games are set to air on major outlets rather than being tucked away exclusively on ESPN+, which should give the club a broader stage in front of casual viewers as the season unfolds. It is another sign that the league sees New Jersey as part of a slate worth promoting, even if the biggest payoff from that exposure still has to come on the ice. [Read more 🡒]
Quinn Hughes Just Put More Pressure On A Story Devils Fans Know Well
The 2026 NHL offseason has already started to circle back to one of the leagues most closely watched names, and Devils fans know the territory well. New Jerseys trade activity has kept the roster conversation moving, but the bigger long-term question remains the same one that has lingered around defenseman Quinn Hughes, now in a contract spot that continues to draw attention across the market.
Hughes still has not signed an extension, and the next major domino could come in Colorado, where Cale Makars looming deal is expected to help shape the rest of the defenseman market. For the Devils, that kind of contract ripple matters because any shift at the top can affect both the price tag and the timing on a player whose future is still unresolved. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Three-Goalie Plan Leaves David Rittich In A Tough Spot
The Devils spent the offseason reshaping the roster in a few notable ways, adding Anthony Mantha and making the move that sent Jacob Markstrom elsewhere. In goal, though, the picture has become more complicated, with New Jersey leaning on a three-man rotation that includes Nico Daws, Jake Allen and David Rittich.
Rittich has given the Devils a lift at times early in the season, but his play has fallen off enough to raise questions about where he fits now. Analysts have pointed to confidence issues as one possible reason for the drop, and with the team trying to stabilize the crease, his next stretch could go a long way toward determining how much of a role he keeps in New Jersey. [Read more 🡒]