A few days ago, Winnipeg Jets netminder Connor Hellebuyck publicly requested a trade. Given his comments at the end of the season and the Jets’ trade negotiations with the Buffalo Sabres earlier in the summer, it wasn’t a huge surprise that Hellebuyck had privately requested a trade months ago.
The remaining years left on his contract drew immediate comparison to Dylan Larkin‘s trade request from the Detroit Red Wings. Like Larkin, Hellebuyck has several years remaining on his contract, so he can’t leverage Winnipeg into a trade by not signing a new extension. Still, Hellebuyck has a no-movement clause through the 2026-27 season before it turns into a 10-team trade list next year.
In Detroit, despite Larkin’s lack of leverage, he has given the Red Wings a list of only four teams he would accept a trade to and has been unwilling to budge (although that could change when Detroit hires a new General Manager).
However, it doesn’t appear the Jets will have a similar issue. According to TSN’s Chris Johnston, Hellebuyck would approve a trade to a variety of teams. Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press seconded Johnston’s report, indicating that it’s an expansive list, not just a select few teams.
That means, at this point, that Winnipeg just hasn’t received a sufficient offer for Hellebuyck. It’s unknown what they would ask for in a trade for Hellebuyck. It’s well known that Steve Yzerman was looking for an equal asset for Larkin, though it’s not as clear the Jets have a similar approach. The Jets finished eight points back of a playoff spot last season, and will have a difficult time improving that record without Hellebuyck.