NHL Rumor Mill – August 28, 2026
Now that Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck has made his trade request public, where are the potential destinations and what could the Jets seek in return? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE ATHLETIC: Murat Ates believes Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff faces a big challenge finding a suitable trade partner to meet his asking price for Connor Hellebuyck.
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (NHL Images).
In a statement through his agent on Thursday, the 33-year-old goaltender made his trade request public. Cheveldayoff also released a statement indicating that the two sides will continue to work toward a resolution, but provided no updates about trade talks.
Ates suggested the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes could be among several Cup contenders in need of a goaltending upgrade. Others include the Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights, New Jersey Devils, and Buffalo Sabres.
According to Ates, the Jets’ biggest needs are a top-six forward (preferably a center or right wing) and a goaltender who can help ease Hellebuyck’s loss. He acknowledged that goalies of Hellebuyck’s caliber are rarely moved, and those who were in the past (Ryan Miller, Roberto Luongo) fetched a lesser goaltender, a mid-tier roster player, and a first-round draft pick.
The Sabres were the team most closely tied to Hellebuyck in trade rumors. Ates believes they’re the best-stocked to address the Jets’ needs. Their goalies include Alex Lyon and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, while potentially available forwards could include Josh Norris, Ryan McLeod, and Jack Quinn.
SPORTSNET: Emily Sadler looked at five potential landing spots for Hellebuyck.
The Sabres, Devils, and Hurricanes are on her list, along with the Vegas Golden Knights and San Jose Sharks.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Ryan Lambert also explored where Hellebuyck might end up, pointing out that the three-time Vezina Trophy winner’s preference would be joining an already-competitive American team.
The Sabres and Hurricanes are on Lambert’s list, along with the Golden Knights, Panthers, and Sharks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hellebuyck will be a very attractive trade target, but his contract will be a sticking point. He’s signed through 2030-31 with an average annual value of $8.5 million and a full no-movement clause.
It’s rumored that Hellebuyck could have more trade destinations in mind than Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin, who followed up his trade request with a three-or four-team list that has significantly hampered the Wings’ ability to move him.
However, Hellebuyck’s AAV could be difficult for some clubs to absorb unless they send some significant salary to Winnipeg or make separate cost-cutting deals with other clubs.
Buffalo was reportedly close to acquiring Hellebuyck in June, but the deal fell through before the opening round of the 2026 NHL Draft. However, the Jets weren’t willing to part with their first-round pick (eighth overall). It was also rumored that one of the Sabres goalies (believed to be Luukkonen) declined to waive their no-trade clause, but that clause didn’t go into effect until July 1.
San Jose and Carolina have the trade capital, with the Hurricanes having the advantage of carrying $9.98 million in salary-cap space. Hellebuyck would make the Canes stronger in goal, but it could cost them a goalie (Brandon Bussi or Pyotr Kochetkov) and a good young forward to get him. Winnipeg native Seth Jarvis would be a natural fit, but the Hurricanes won’t part with him. Jackson Blake or Logan Stankoven could be part of the Jets’ asking price.
The Sharks have plenty of promising young forwards to tempt the Jets. Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, and top prospect Ivar Stenberg are out of bounds, but Michael Misa, Collin Graf, or Igor Chernyshov might be available. The Jets could also ask for promising goalie Yaroslav Askarov, but the Sharks could be unwilling to part with him.
New Jersey could offer Nico Daws in a trade package, but he hasn’t fully established himself as an NHL goalie. Dawson Mercer or Arseny Gritsyuk could fill the top-six forward spot, and they have two first-rounders in 2027 and 2028.
Florida and Vegas are the least-likely destinations. If those clubs can’t afford to acquire Larkin ($8.7 million AAV), they can’t afford Hellebuyck, and even if they could, they lack the tradeable assets to entice the Jets, unless they can somehow get a third team involved in the deal to send them the necessary assets to make it happen.
Helly for Jarvis, plain and simple!
Yup! Jarvis to Winny for Helly
Chevy signs Ingram to platoon with Skinner
Chevy needs to just focus on the best assests package for Helle, they can always flip prospects and/or 1st rounders into the top RHD and 2nd line center that they need after the fact if need be. If they’re focused only on finding the perfect deal in one swoop, then they’re leaving money on the table. As long as they eventually get the players that they need who cares if it takes two or three deals to do it.
it is not the simple. Keep in mind historically that Winnipeg generally is a common team that is listed among players as a team on their no trade lists so while players become available they may not be available to Winnipeg.
Then Winnipeg is only a season removed from vwing the president’s trophy winner. So they see themselves as a win now mode as well.
They need a key piece in return not just all hopes and promises. I think that is what has stalled things and allowed things to drag out. The Doans, Jarvis’ and or Blakes are likely not being included in pkgs and it has instead been a mix bag of spare parts with prospects and picks.
They won’t win the trade but they cannot let the trade set them back years.
At this point you have to wonder if the Jets have overplayed their hand. Did they leave the best offer on the table? Are the Jets slow playing it to get a better offer or get more teams involved that Hellebuyck would be willing to go to? Like Larkin will this drag out till training camp and beyond?
Wpg is always slow (methodical?) when trading players who requested to be moved.
And Helly has a full NMC this year that drops to only a 10 team NTC next year.
The leverage is all with Wpg right now.
I think Buffalo makes perfect sense as a team in the winning window and also having lots of young players to trade back to Wpg. UPL would have to move but he has a 5 team no trade list and Wpg is on it, so that complicates things.
The Sabres made the best offer at the draft.I think they have moved on and are still looking for a veteran forward to replace Tuch,Greenway , and Dunne. A lot of physicality, grit, and leadership went out the door with those players. They have yet to be replaced. After Ostlund,Helenius, and Kulich,they don’t have much in the forward prospects. The best prospects are actually on defense after those 3 forwards. I would be shocked if the Sabres would trade now for Helleybuck, but with Jarmo you never know.
I don’t think the Jets overplayed their hand, I think Buf knew about the trade request and was hoping to short change Wpg on the return. The rumour is that they would send the 4th overall pick to Wpg but wanted their 8th overall in return. Hellebuyck is worth way more than a slide down from 4th to 8th overall.
If Buf are interested the package needs to be UPL (who is a pure dump if you are getting Hellebuyck), Doan, Power and a pick.
Johnny your just thinking of shortening Jarvis’s buddy’s travel expenses
At what point does the league step in and take a hard look at why so many Team USA players are forcing trades?
This isn’t a case of all US players leaving Canada. This is mostly the Team USA players who are the “top” players in the league. They tasted winning and want to keep winning and stars do have some leverage around where they play.
If Ottawa and Calgary and Wpg and Vancouver were winning regularly, there would be a lot less noise about leaving.
Nobody wanted to go to Florida or TB for 20+ years until they started winning.
Foley – your point about Florida 20 years ago is totally correct. And there are about 25-30 American born players, playing on Canadian based teams and none are asking to be traded from Canada.
Ottawa were winning. Made the playoffs two years in a row and are on the up. I think the case for Brady is he wanted to be with his brother plain and simple.
Ed I don’t think there’s any one reason. I think the current situation may have something to do with it but who knows. Winnipeg has a host of other reasons but the one most annoying is their travel schedules. FYI there are few direct flights to many of the other NHL cities and that makes life that much harder on athletes.
With the Oilers making a great under the radar move by signing Misha Donskov on board (aka Babcock backup 😉), Hellebuyck would be the kind of help the oilers could use between the pipes. Too bad the Oilers are likely not going to be a fit Hellebuyck will approve but if you publicly ask to be traded….
They don’t have a team-owned plane or a charter based in the Peg?
You are not gonna tell me they fly coach next, are you? 😉
Johnny Z the Jets travel on a dedicated Air Canada Jetz Airbus 320 reconfigured to 70 business class seats. They use private terminals as well.
Yeah … like Dylan Larkin …. oh wait, he was already on a U.S.-based team ….
Come on Ed, there were just 5 U.S. Olympic team players on Canada-based teams – Auston Matthews with Toronto, Brady Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson with Ottawa, and Hellebuyck and Kyle Connor with Winnipeg … and Connor recently signed an 8-year $96 mil deal with the Jets.
Where Tkachuk is concerned, it was mostly about wanting to play with his brother … who just happened to be with Florida.
It was mentioned in morning coffee how Olympic players might’ve discussed playing together. There’s 2 players that have requested trades and 1 that walked back his rumored request. All 3 are Michigan natives. 2 are bff’s. Detroit should’ve made playoffs last year. Total collapse. They have nearly 20 mil cap space. They have a top prospect pool. They can afford to chase a couple big names. Larkin isn’t going to his preferred destinations. I’ve mentioned him going to Columbus but, what if he can be convinced to stay? If I’m Detroit: Call Jets and Blue Jackets. Get permission to talk to players. Trade for Hellybuck and then go after Werenski.
To Jets: Carter Bear (Winnipeg native) and Trey Augustine. Add as necessary
To CBJ: Edvinsson plus whatever.
no…….
No thanks, Larkin needs to go as soon as he expands his trade list. Until then he should be stripped of the C and enjoy getting booed every home game and face the media asking him about it after every game.
He made his bed when he made the trade request public and only listing 3 teams (now 4). He’s done in Detroit even if he tried to walk it back.
I think the Canes are good with Kochetkov and Bussi but you never know
Buffalo.
Mrtka Kulich UPL and a pick that is not a first.
Potentially a lot with some risk. Only because of age and last years performance. I get his has won 3 Vezina’s but at 33 history dictates we will see a decline. Even for a goalie is late on the back 9 . We have seen it with “Bob” and many others
I don’t think the first is a big deal with the thought that the goal is it is in the 20’s at minimum. 8th overall and 20-32nd is a huge difference.
If that’s what gets you him, I say Sabres do it.
Solid Buffalo offer.
Ill go with Hellebuyck to SJ along with DeMelo for Askarov, Chernyshov, Bystedt , Goodrow ( cap purposes) , maybe a couple of mid picks.
Why is Mrtka, UPL, Kulich and a pick considered a solid offer for a Vezina-Hart winning goalie when earlier this week I proposed a deal for Marchenko (who is nowhere near the level of player as Hellebuyck) to Montreal for Montembault, Struble, Mooney (a top prospect), Beck (nhl-ready) and a pick and was told that offer was nowhere good enough.
Several factors. Goalies generally do not bring back massive returns. Hellibuck has a full nmc. Mooney is not a top prospect mrkta is a top prospect. Upl is an nhl caliber goalie mont at this time is not.
Canes and NJ are vying for Helly right now!
Should the Jets not think of a retool/rebuild? With the current roster chances of getting out of their division in the playoffs is slim anyways.
You have solid veterans on great contracts but just don’t fit in the timing.
Hellebuyck to Buffalo for McLeod, timmins and a 1st round pick.
Connor to Carolina for Stankoven, Nikishin and a 1st round pick.
Scheifele to Minnesota for Wallstadt and Yurov and a 2nd round pick. Winnipeg retains 50% salary. Minny will need to find a short term fix until gustavsson returns from injury. Maybe Ingram?
Keep Morrisey until at least the deadline or trade the following year.
If Scheifele became available I think Montreal would be all over that . Could send a goalie and other prospects and picks . But I do not see the Jets going to a full rebuild at least for a year or two.
Unless Wpg is giving Scheifele away then I doubt Mtl is interested in a 33 yr old with another 5 years on his deal which will likely be a constant decline in production.
Plus you are going to bring him into a room that still has Jake Evans (who he tried to decapitate) and whom he never apoligized to. I don’t think so and from a fan perspective, no thanks.
Jeff interesting proposals. If you put those quality names out there you could get a haul.If the people of Winnepeg would accept it,it is the way to go.Being proactive is their best way of dealing with the way some players view playing in Winnepeg!
Jeff. Jets are a year removed from winning presidents trophy. They drafted Bjorck in 1st rd. Added Ferraro in FA. If they can get functional goaltending they could come away an even better team after trading Helly.