Jets set to cash in on Hellebuyck this summer

Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press assigns a north of 95 percent probability to Connor Hellebuyck being traded this summer.

Offseason moves point to roster reset

The Jets declined to re-sign backup Eric Comrie and instead signed former Oilers starter Stuart Skinner in free agency. That pair of decisions leaves Hellebuyck as the clear odd man out on a five-year contract. Skinner’s arrival supplies the organization with a younger, cheaper option while freeing cap space that a trade could replenish with draft capital.

GM Kevin Cheveldayoff retains leverage because five years remain on Hellebuyck’s deal. The absence of any trade request from the goaltender allows Winnipeg to wait for the right package rather than accept a lowball offer. Sabres, Sharks and Hurricanes remain the most frequently mentioned suitors in ongoing discussions.

Buffalo package stalled on NTC technicality

A proposed three-team framework involving Buffalo reportedly collapsed when one player refused to waive a no-trade clause. That player is believed to have been Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen whose five-team list did not activate until July 1. The timing prevented the deal from closing before the draft and illustrates how narrow the path remains for any transaction.

Massimo De Luca-Taronno of the Winnipeg Sun counters that no sufficiently enticing offer has surfaced yet. He views Hellebuyck’s presence at September training camp as increasingly probable unless the asking price drops. The contrast between McIntyre’s high-percentage forecast and De Luca-Taronno’s wait-and-see stance highlights the Jets’ patient posture.

Historical precedent favors mid-summer blockbuster

Erik Karlsson moved to Pittsburgh in a three-team deal on August 6 2023 after similar summer speculation. The Jets can replicate that timeline if a comparable offer arrives during the dog days. Five verifiable data points anchor the current market: Hellebuyck’s remaining five contract years, Skinner’s recent signing, Comrie’s non-tender, Luukkonen’s July 1 NTC activation and the 2023 Karlsson trade date.

No reports indicate Hellebuyck has asked out unlike Detroit’s Dylan Larkin situation. Winnipeg therefore controls the narrative and can present any acceptable offer to the netminder for his no-movement clause waiver. The longer the impasse continues the smaller the chance of a pre-camp resolution becomes.

The addition of Skinner was explicitly not driven by Hellebuyck’s uncertain status according to NHL.com reporting on July 3 2026. That clarification removes one variable and focuses attention on asset accumulation instead.