Where could Connor Hellebuyck land after doubling-down on trade demand?

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 13: Connor Hellebuyck #37 of the Winnipeg Jets skates during warmups against the Vegas Golden Knights before their game at T-Mobile Arena on April 13, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Jets 6-2. | Getty Images The behind-the-scenes battle between the Winnipeg Jets and goalie Connor Hellebuyck went public on Thursday when the Vezina-winning goaltender released a statement reiterating that he is demanding a trade. Rumors swirled around Hellebuyck’s future at the NHL Draft, but the situation cooled as the draft weekend rolled on, with reports that the Jets weren’t receiving trade offers they hoped for. When the dust settled there was no trade, as it seemed Winnipeg was going to roll forward with Hellebuyck on their roster in 2026-27 — at least until the trade deadline. Now he’s trying to force his way out quickly, posting the following: “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.” Initially it was believed that the Florida Panthers would be players for Hellebuyck, but they went in a different direction in June when they acquired Jakob Markstrom from the New Jersey Devils. Now the options on the table are very limited for a goalie with a long-term $8.5M AAV contract coming off a down year. Only a handful of teams can afford Hellebuyck, fewer still need goaltending help, and less still who are confident enough to give up assets the Jets covet to get the deal done. There remain two realistic scenarios at this point: The Jets accept they’re going to have to take a mediocre package for Hellebuyck to ship him off, or try to mend fences at least until the NHL trade deadline in the hopes a contender is in dire need of goaltending help for a playoff push. Neither option is idea, but here are the teams right now that could reasonably make a play for Hellebuyck. No. 1: Carolina Hurricanes The Stanley Cup champs were the most-likely landing spot for Hellebuyck outside of the Florida Panthers, and there were reports the two sides engaged in trade discussions at the draft, but nothing materialized. The assumption is that Carolina played hardball with its offer, which caused things to fall apart. At this point the Hurricanes hold all the cards to get a deal done. They’re not in urgent need of goaltending help after the emergence of Brandon Bussi last season, paired with Pyotr Kochetkov returning from injury — but if Hellebuyck is able to find his form again it could be the kind of move that establishes Carolina as a perennial cup threat. The Hurricanes have the cap space to absorb Hellebuyck’s contract, as well as a nice asset in promising defenseman Alexander Nikishin, who is current an RFA. Nikishin wants more money than the Canes are offering, and could end up heading to arbitration — but if he’s willing to accept Winnipeg as a home he could be the centerpiece of a deal in a sign-and-trade scenario. No. 2: Anaheim Ducks The Ducks are a team on the rise and looking to make bold moves to improve their team. It’s here where Hellebuyck becomes a fascinating potential option for them. The team re-signed Lukas Dostal a year ago to a $6.5M AAV deal, but he was middling at best in the 2025-26 playoff run which ended in a loss to the Golden Knights in the second round. The Ducks don’t have enough room to make a deal, but it’s a very narrow margin. They could make a deal here where they send Dostal and some draft capital for Hellebuyck, which would easily make the money work — it’s just a question of whether or not they believe he’s the final piece to get them further in the playoffs. No. 3: Buffalo Sabres The Sabres breakout performance in 2025-26 was a beautiful thing to watch, and now the team has pivoted from being a playoff hopeful, to a squad looking to make this a regular occurence. There’s a lot to like about the Sabres as a landing spot, and it’s likely that Hellebuyck would be thrilled with a trad to Buffalo where he can play with his Team USA partner Tage Thompson. This is another team with a cap sticking point, but like Anaheim, it could open the door for a goalie trade. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is coming off his best season, however he’s still a mid-tier goalie. There’s definitely a scenario here where Hellebuyck is seen as a long-term upgrade. No. 4: Vegas Golden Knights If there’s one team desperate enough to do anything to make a deal, it’s the Golden Knights. The team was close to winning a Stanley Cup, with Carter Hart ultimately being the biggest liability they had on the ice. The primary issue is that the Knights are in cap hell. There would need to be major player movement to make this happen, and at some point the team needs to weigh whether or not Hellebuyck is enough of an upgrade to warrant losing key depth players at two or three positions to make it happen.

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