Speculation has insisted all offseason long that Connor Hellebuyck wants out of Winnipeg and would soon be traded. On Thursday, the trade request piece of the puzzle became official.
Through his agent, Ray Petkau, Hellebuyck released a statement publicly acknowledging that he privately asked out several months ago and that his request still stands.
“Winnipeg has been my home for my entire NHL career, and I will always be grateful for my time there.
I have never forgotten June 23, 2012. That’s the day Winnipeg took a chance on a goalie playing in Odessa, TX. I gave everything I had from that moment to prove that the Jets made the right decision.
Several months ago, I privately requested a trade. I have tried to handle the situation quietly and respectfully while giving the organization time to explore its options.
With training camp approaching, I felt it was important to publicly confirm my request. My position has not changed, and I believe moving on is the best path forward for me and my family.
I appreciate everything Winnipeg Jets fans have meant to me throughout my career and hope a resolution can be reached soon,”
The 33-year-old Hellebuyck has five years remaining on the seven-year, $59.5 million contract extension he signed with the Jets in 2023. He went 23-23-11 while posting a 2.86 goals-against average and a .895 save percentage across 57 starts last season.
GM Kevin Cheveldayoff has since responded to the statement with this:
“Connor has been open with us about his desire for a change. He has been an important part of the Winnipeg Jets organization for many years and we have tremendous respect for what he has accomplished here. While we will continue to work through the situation in a thoughtful manner, there is no update at this time,”
With NHL training camps starting in mid-September, there seems to be a chance we could now see a Hellebuyck trade sometime over the next few weeks.
