Trade Speculation Growing Over Jets' Connor Hellebuyck

The Winnipeg Jets will reportedly listen to offers on goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, so the trade speculation continues to grow on potential landing spots.

The possibility of the Winnipeg Jets shaking up their roster this summer has made Connor Hellebuyck a hot topic for trade speculation. Recent reports linked the 29-year-old goaltender to the Buffalo Sabres, New Jersey Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins.

On Saturday, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported the Jets will listen to offers on Hellebuyck as well as centers Mark Scheifele and Pierre-Luc Dubois. The Winnipeg Sun's Scott Billeck wrote he believes Hellebuyck could be their biggest bargaining chip as the 2023 draft approaches.

Billeck included the Devils and Sabres among his list of potential trade destinations for Hellebuyck, along with the Los Angeles Kings, Ottawa Senators and Detroit Red Wings. Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli mentioned the Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs and Vegas Golden Knights.

Like Scheifele and Dubois, Hellebuyck is a year away from UFA eligibility. CapFriendly indicates he lacks a no-trade clause but carries a cap hit of $6.167 million for 2023-24.

Hellebuyck's contract is too expensive for the cap-strapped Golden Knights, Kings and Leafs. The Sabres, Senators and Red Wings can afford his cap hit but could insist that he sign a contract extension before committing valuable assets to acquire him.

The Hurricanes are in win-now mode, but they've indicated a willingness to bring back pending UFAs Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta. Hellebuyck would provide a big boost between the pipes for the Penguins, but they could lack sufficient trade assets to tempt the Jets, who apparently seek a return that helps them now and over the long term. 

That could leave the Devils as the best trade partner in terms of available assets and cap space. The latter, however, depends on the cost of re-signing wingers Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt.