The Winnipeg Jets are finding out the hard way that a big name doesn’t guarantee a big return. Connor Hellebuyck’s trade market has been slow to develop, and the offers coming back haven’t been close to what Winnipeg wants. That’s left a messy situation hanging over a team that still wants to compete, not tear things down.
TSN insider Darren Dreger said teams have been in touch about the three-time Vezina Trophy winner, but the proposals sent back to the Jets have been “terrible.” Dreger also said Hellebuyck is unlikely to waive his no-trade clause for a Canadian destination, which narrows the field even more.
The Athletic’s Murat Ates suggested the weak market may be forcing a reality check on Hellebuyck’s value, while also noting Winnipeg may have reduced its own leverage by waiting until after the draft and July 1 to seriously push the situation forward. Elliotte Friedman said the talks have been very quiet and added that the Jets are not interested in moving Hellebuyck for futures.
“Winnipeg has made it very clear that they are also not doing it for futures. They don’t want to make their team worse. Any trade they make for Hellebuyck or other trades around it, Winnipeg wants to compete.”
That stance could drag this all the way into training camp, which would only make an already uncomfortable situation more awkward.
Elsewhere, the Minnesota Wild took care of their own business by extending head coach John Hynes, keeping him from entering the season on the final year of his deal. Martin St.
Louis had recently been in a similar spot before landing an extension, and Pierre LeBrun pointed to a handful of other coaches still working under that kind of uncertainty: Joel Quenneville, Jared Bednar, Scott Arniel, Ryan Warsofsky and Rick Bowness. Andrew Brunette is another name to watch, with one season left and a team option for 2027-28.
There’s also a deadline squeeze building in Anaheim, where the Ducks and restricted free agent Cutter Gauthier are still trying to hammer out an extension. LeBrun said Tuesday is a key day in those talks, and Anaheim put a new offer on the table Sunday.
The two sides still had more to sort through and were expected to meet again. The wrinkle is the old CBA expiring tonight, which matters because of how front-loaded rules change in the new agreement.
LeBrun noted, “But if a deal doesn’t get done before the old CBA expires tonight, then there’s an issue because of how the front-loaded rules change in the new CBA. And the front-loaded money is an important part of the current discussion.”
That means Gauthier isn’t just pushing for a strong AAV. He also wants a contract built with signing bonuses and front-loaded money.
The Vancouver Canucks are dealing with a similar clock, and Rick Dhaliwal said the talks with RFA Liam Ohgren were pretty quiet as of Tuesday morning. “Things can change with 1 phone call, but I was told this morning, very quiet between the Canucks and free agent Liam Ohgren in contract talks.”
If the sides can’t bridge the gap soon, Vancouver could lose the chance to sign him to the maximum eight-year term. At the same time, Ohgren is still viewed as a bit of a wildcard, so the Canucks may not be eager to lock themselves into that long of a deal.
In Columbus, the Blue Jackets are trying to get Adam Fantilli under contract before camp gets rolling. Aaron Portzline of The Athletic wrote, “Deals are getting done.
Have to believe Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell and Adam Fantilli’s agent, Pat Brisson, will be hard at work today.” He added that players report for physicals on Wednesday and hit the ice on Thursday, and nobody wants the 21-year-old No. 1 center missing the start of camp.
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Sabres Have A Roster Squeeze That Could Reshape Their Top Six
Buffalos forward depth keeps creating more questions than answers, and the ripple effect could reach all the way to Winnipeg. The Sabres already have a crowded group of young players under contract, with Josh Doan, Zach Benson and Noah Ostlund among the names giving the front office plenty to sort through as it tries to map out the top six and settle on the best spot for Tage Thompson, whether that ends up being wing or center.
The roster squeeze gets even more interesting because Buffalo has also been linked in trade discussions for Connor Hellebuyck, a move that would come with major consequences beyond the crease. Any serious push for a goalie of that caliber would force the Sabres to weigh how much of their young talent they are willing to part with, and that is where the real tension sits for a team trying to stay competitive without thinning out the very group that makes its future so promising. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Camp Opens With One Problem Hanging Over Everything
Winnipegs training camp is set to run Sept. 17-25 at Hockey For All Centre, and the Jets have filled the roster with 51 players who will spend the week-plus sorting out jobs, roles and first impressions. Recent draft pick Viggo Bjrck is among the names to watch, while the group also includes a full complement of goaltenders, defensemen and forwards as the club begins the long lead-up to opening night.
But for all the usual camp churn, one situation hangs over everything: Connor Hellebuycks status remains uncertain after his reported trade request, and the team is still waiting to see whether its No. 1 goalie will be in the building when camp opens. The Jets may not have to wait long for clarity, either, with the next move potentially arriving as early as Wednesday or Thursday. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Add A New Voice With One Job Fans Will Notice
The Jets have added Matt Larke to the staff in a role that should be visible to fans long before it shows up on a roster sheet. Larke is coming in to help sharpen individual player skills, with a particular emphasis on skating mechanics, while also giving the coaching staff another resource during the grind of the season.
Larke is not walking into the room as a stranger, either. He has already worked with Kyle Connor, and that existing connection could make the transition smoother as Winnipeg looks for small improvements that can add up over time. For a team always searching for an edge, the hope is that this kind of behind-the-scenes help translates into more polished play when it matters most. [Read more 🡒]