Jets keep Hellebuyck options open past draft

Trade talks between the Winnipeg Jets and Buffalo Sabres over Connor Hellebuyck have extended into the dog days of summer without resolution.

Persistent conversations after the draft

The Jets and Sabres kept dialogue active following the draft, where Winnipeg selected Viggo Bjork in the first round and declined to flip that pick in any Hellebuyck package. David Pagnotta noted that the same willingness shown by Hellebuyck toward Buffalo earlier in the summer has kept the line open. Shawn Belle observed that many agents and teams retreat to cottages in July, which slows but does not end movement on high-profile names.

Conversations that included Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and additional forward pieces from Buffalo never reached agreement on asset return. Winnipeg instead prioritized retaining the fourth-overall selection and building around Bjork, a thick, powerful center projected for immediate second-line minutes. This choice directly limited the scope of any Hellebuyck offer and preserved draft capital for other roster holes.

Carolina has continued to monitor the situation without submitting a formal bid. Pagnotta stated that the Hurricanes “are always poking around,” creating a secondary market that could accelerate if Buffalo’s package falls short. The dual-track interest gives Winnipeg leverage while both clubs weigh salary-cap implications for the coming season.

Timing pressure before training camp

Pagnotta flagged a potential late-summer window, noting that news could surface on a random date such as August 5 without surprise. Belle added that activity often picks up once players return from summer breaks and finalize their own plans. The Jets have shown motivation to complete a move before the season rather than carry the uncertainty into October.

Hellebuyck’s willingness to waive his no-trade clause for Buffalo remains on record, yet the absence of a completed deal leaves open the possibility he begins 2026-27 in Winnipeg. Belle described the scenario as realistic: the team could ride the season with its starter and revisit the market next summer. That path would allow Winnipeg to evaluate Bjork’s readiness and any internal goaltending options without immediate pressure.

The ripple effect of moving a Vezina-caliber goalie mid-season or in the final days of summer would reshape both the Jets’ cap structure and the Sabres’ or Hurricanes’ contention timeline. Belle highlighted that such a transaction at this caliber would produce league-wide movement on other netminders and draft assets.

Outlook for the 2026-27 campaign

Winnipeg’s front office has signaled that conversations will continue through the remainder of July. The combination of retained first-round capital and ongoing interest from two Eastern Conference clubs positions the Jets to dictate terms rather than accept a diminished return. Any deal must still address the second-line forward vacancy created by the decision not to include the top-four pick.

If Buffalo upgrades its offer with a young forward or additional prospect, the path to completion shortens. Carolina’s peripheral involvement supplies a fallback that could force Buffalo’s hand before camps open. Both scenarios hinge on the same numerical reality: Winnipeg selected Bjork first overall in its 2026 draft class and protected that asset at the expense of an immediate Hellebuyck transaction.

The Jets therefore face a binary summer outcome. Either a package including Luukkonen or a comparable netminder closes before training camp, or Hellebuyck remains the starter for at least the opening months of 2026-27.