NHL Rumor Roundup: Will The Winnipeg Jets Really Trade Connor Hellebuyck This Summer?
It's been almost a month since rumblings about the possibility of the Winnipeg Jets trading franchise goaltender Connor Hellebuyck first arose in the rumor mill.
The chatter intensified as the NHL draft weekend approached, with reports claiming the Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers were interested in the 33-year-old Hellebuyck. It was later reported that a deal between the Jets and Sabres fell through hours before the first round of the draft began.
It seemed only a matter of time until the Jets traded Hellebucyk, but over two weeks after the draft, there's no sign a deal is imminent. Talk of the Colorado Avalanche and New Jersey Devils as landing spots for the three-time Vezina Trophy winner has been dismissed.
Why The Buffalo Sabres Can't Give Up On Winnipeg Jets' Connor Hellebuyck
The Buffalo Sabres are reportedly still interested in trading for Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck. The Sabres had solid goaltending this past year, but the opportunity to acquire a superstar goalie is well worth pursuing.
The Buffalo deal was reportedly close to happening, but one of the players involved was rumored to have refused to waive their no-trade clause. It was suggested that the player was goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who has a five-team no-trade list, but that clause didn't go into effect until July 1, four days after the draft.
It's possible that no one meets the Jets' asking price and they retain Hellebuyck for the regular season. However, it's not unusual for a big-name player to be traded during the summer's dog days. Just ask Erik Karlsson, who was shipped to the Pittsburgh Penguins in a blockbuster, three-team trade on Aug. 6, 2023.
Still, the longer this drags on, the less likely it becomes that Hellebuyck gets moved before training camp.
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This story was originally published July 14, 2026 at 7:22 AM.