Connor Hellebuyck Trade Talk Heats Up Before Friday

The Connor Hellebuyck clock is down to four days. At least three teams remain in the mix to trade for the Jets goalie, sources told ESPN's Emily Kaplan on Monday, though there's no guarantee he gets moved before his team-issued suspension ends Friday, Oct. 23.

If no trade comes together this week, the Jets are likely to resume paying Hellebuyck while keeping him away from the team, according to ESPN's sources. TSN's Darren Dreger said Monday evening that Winnipeg "remains 100% committed to trying to find a trade," and that Hellebuyck reached out to his Jets teammates about rejoining the team and didn't get much of a response.

Who's in on Hellebuyck

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman laid out the field on his 32 Thoughts podcast Monday. Buffalo is the long-rumored suitor, and Friedman said Hellebuyck is willing to go there, with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen one possible piece coming back. Utah has been in and out of the conversation. The Rangers are a wild card after Igor Shesterkin's injury, though Friedman doesn't think they're likely to want Hellebuyck themselves. Carolina is interested, but he doesn't see an easy deal there.

He holds a full no-movement clause, so he gets to approve any destination. That turns into a modified no-trade clause next summer.

How the Hellebuyck suspension got here

Hellebuyck requested a trade this summer and went public on Aug. 27. "My position has not changed," he said in a statement released by agent Ray Petkau. "I believe moving on is the best path forward for me and my family." Winnipeg suspended him Sept. 16 when he didn't report to training camp.

The bill has been steep. Hellebuyck has been losing nearly $39,000 per day and had forfeited nearly $800,000 in salary as of Monday, per ESPN. He has been getting regular ice time in Michigan.

Coach Scott Arniel pushed back Monday on the idea that the room has shut the door on him. "I don't think our whole group is saying, 'Oh, we don't want you. We don't want you,'" Arniel said. "Right now, everybody's waiting to see. The players are waiting. We're waiting. I'm waiting."

Forward Cole Perfetti said the Jets "want guys that want to be here," and if Hellebuyck "comes back and shows that he wants to be a part of this and recommits to this group, then that's obviously good news."

Hellebuyck's résumé, and the Jets without him

This is a three-time Vezina winner who took the Hart Trophy in 2025 and went 5-0 with a .956 save percentage to lead Team USA to Olympic gold in February. Last season was rougher: 23-23-11 with a 2.86 GAA and an .895 save percentage, the lowest of his career, as the Jets missed the playoffs.

Winnipeg is 4-2-2 without him. Stuart Skinner is 3-0-2 with a .906 save percentage, and Clay Stevenson is 1-2-0.

The Jets visit the Blues on Tuesday (8 p.m. ET) and the Stars on Thursday, then host the Canadiens in the Heritage Classic at Princess Auto Stadium on Sunday. Whether Hellebuyck is in that building, or wearing somebody else's sweater by then, is the only question in Winnipeg this week.