Can the Jets move on from Hellebuyck and still be a contender?
The Winnipeg Jets followed their Presidents’ Trophy-winning 2024-25 campaign with a disappointing 2025-26 season, going 35-35-12 with 82 points, finishing seventh in the Central Division and 26th in the league.
One name who struggled in the regular season was Connor Hellebuyck, who went 23-23-11 with an .895 save percentage, well below the all-time performance he was able to produce during his Hart Trophy-winning campaign the year before. While the 33-year-old is signed through the 2030-31 campaign, some are wondering if a change of scenery would serve the three-time Vezina Trophy winner a world of good.
The Sheet host Jeff Marek pondered on his show Tuesday a potential trade that would send Hellebuyck to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for defenseman Owen Power, plus other assets. While the idea may rub some Jets fans the wrong way, the team may have to face the reality that it’s time to make a decision with their No. 1 netminder.
On Wednesday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Tyler Yaremchuk and former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton discuss the Jets’ upcoming offseason and whether now is the time to move on their franchise goalie.
Tyler Yaremchuk: I think there’s probably been some amount of conversation about Hellebuyck maybe wanting a fresh start. Again, when there’s smoke, there’s fire. An interesting part for the Jets is, can you trade Hellebuyck and still build a contending roster without the best goalie in the world?
Carter Hutton: I don’t know if you can. I know Jeff Marek brought up a potential trade with the Sabres, and it depends what you get back. But they have an aging corps and Kyle Connor’s $12-million per year contract kicks in next year, and he’s going to be turning 30. Mark Scheifele is 33, Adam Lowry is 33, and all of a sudden, you eliminate that X-factor to try and make a run in a star-studded Central Division.
If I’m a free agent, and I’m looking to go somewhere, and now you take Connor Hellebuyck out of the equation … why the heck would you want to go there?
You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode here…