Jets and Leafs reject subpar offers for Hellebuyck and Knies

Kevin Cheveldayoff twice declined to confirm whether Connor Hellebuyck had requested a trade on draft night.

Jets weigh Hellebuyck market

The Jets received a Carolina Hurricanes offer that included a first-round pick plus pending RFA defenseman Alexander Nikishkin. General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff rejected that package because it failed to improve the roster enough to justify moving a three-time Vezina winner and Hart Trophy recipient. Carolina also signaled willingness to include one of its own goaltenders, yet Winnipeg still viewed the return as insufficient compensation for a generational netminder.

Cheveldayoff’s refusal to answer the trade-request question twice signaled that the organization remains in control of the timeline. The Jets now must decide whether waiting twelve months could improve the offer for a 34-year-old goalie if no firm request materializes and the team itself does not advance. That calculation hinges on whether the market for elite goaltending strengthens or weakens between now and June 2027.

Frank Seravalli reported that the most interesting element of draft day was Cheveldayoff’s silence, which left open the possibility that Hellebuyck stays in Winnipeg without an extension. The three-time Vezina winner’s presence keeps the Jets competitive in net even if other roster pieces lag behind.

Leafs demand premium for Knies

Toronto engaged in advanced talks with the Dallas Stars that would have sent the number-seven overall pick from Seattle to Dallas and then to Toronto as part of a larger package centered on Matthew Knies. That three-team structure collapsed when the underlying Jason Robertson-to-Seattle swap did not occur.

After the framework dissolved, the Maple Leafs did not pursue comparable discussions with any other club. Management had stated from the outset that any deal for a player of Knies’ age and skill set would require an exceptionally large return, and no suitor met that threshold. The 23-year-old forward therefore remains in Toronto with his unique two-way profile intact.

Seravalli noted that the Leafs made their price clear early and refused to blink when the market did not reach it. The episode underscores how rare it is for teams to move a young, cost-controlled forward with top-six upside before he reaches unrestricted free agency.

Draft-night context and next steps

Both organizations faced the same structural pressure: draft-night offers arrive with compressed timelines and limited ability to add sweeteners. Winnipeg and Toronto each concluded that retaining the player preserved more future flexibility than accepting the available assets. The decisions leave Hellebuyck and Knies in their current uniforms heading into the 2026-27 season.

The Jets must now balance the risk of Hellebuyck’s age against the possibility that another year of performance could elevate the return. Toronto, meanwhile, can continue to build around a forward whose value is expected to rise rather than diminish.

The Jets will face the same market test again next June when Hellebuyck turns 34.