It looks like the Winnipeg Jets are approaching a significant fork in the road.
While Sunday’s blockbuster deal involving Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk ending up with the Florida Panthers caught the attention of the hockey world, the Jets’ fan base immediately wondered if there might be any implications to the trade rumours involving franchise’s netminder Connor Hellebuyck.
It’s important to remember that the Panthers deal for Tkachuk was futures-based, so it doesn’t completely rule the 2024 and 2025 Stanley Cup champions out of the mix when it comes to any possible deal for Hellebuyck.
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Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck still holds a great deal of control in the negotiating process and has a full no-movement clause, but if there’s an appetite to move on to another market, it makes sense that the three-time Vezina and 2025 Hart Trophy winner might be a bit more open minded to a move.
Again, it’s important to remember that Hellebuyck still holds a great deal of control in the negotiating process, as he has a full no-movement clause, but if there’s an appetite to move on to another market, it makes sense that the three-time Vezina and 2025 Hart Trophy winner might be a bit more open minded when it comes to his next hockey address if/when it comes to that.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at five potential suitors for Hellebuyck’s services and what they might have to offer in what is going to take a massive return to pry him away from the organization that chose him in the fifth round of the 2012 NHL Draft and watched him grow into a future Hall of Fame netminder.
Buffalo Sabres
After getting back into the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2011, the Sabres want to be more than just a feelgood story next season and general manager Jarmo Kekalainen recognizes that upgrading the goaltending position is one of his top priorities this summer.
Who better to solidify that spot than someone who led Team USA to a gold medal and is under team control for the next five seasons at US$8.5 million AAV. Sure, the Sabres have some salary cap gymnastics to navigate here but they could offer a package that revolves around 20 year old Finnish centre Konsta Helenius (who had 62 points in 63 AHL games with the Rochester Americans of the AHL and also scored twice in four playoff games).
There’s also an ample upside here to go along with a strong two-way game. Noah Ostlund has plenty of appeal and the Sabres could also offer goalie Ukko-Pekka Lukkonen as part of the package.
Former Winnipeg Ice winger Zach Benson would be a great get for the Jets, but he’s likely to get locked up on a long-term contract with the Sabres this summer. However, fellow pending restricted free agent Peyton Krebs (a former Ice captain) could also be on Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff’s wish list.
Carolina Hurricanes
Why in the world would Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky need to take a big swing after watching Freddie Andersen rack up 13 playoff wins and Brandon Bussi take care of the final three? Tulsky is well aware that teams like the Panthers are loading up for another run and several other teams around the league believe they can follow them into the winner’s circle.
Bussi had 31 wins during the regular season after being claimed off waivers from the Panthers and would be a likely target, though the Hurricanes would probably prefer to move netminder Pyotr Kochetkov instead.
You can be sure the Jets would love to add Winnipegger Seth Jarvis, who just completed a third consecutive 30-plus goal season and is under contract at US$7.42 million AAV through the 2030-31 campaign. But Jarvis is unlikely to be going anywhere. Instead, sturdy blue-liner Alexander Nikishin (a pending restricted free agent) is someone that would bolster the Jets’ D corps.
Columbus Blue Jackets
One of these teams is not like the others, as the Blue Jackets just missed out on the Stanley Cup playoffs despite late runs in each of the two previous seasons. They were thriving under former Jets head coach Rick Bowness until they ran out of steam, but Hellebuyck’s Team USA teammate Zach Werenski just won his first Norris Trophy and has two seasons left on his deal before he could become a UFA.
Might adding Hellebuyck convince Werenski to ink an extension next summer when he’s eligible?
Hellebuyck knows how Bowness’ system works when its at its best and he would make the Blue Jackets a challenger in the Metropolitan Division. Columbus could send back goalie Jet Greaves (who is 25 and just entering his prime) and forwards like Kent Johnson and Cole Sillinger as part of the package.
The Jets would love to add a mobile puck moving D-man like Dominion City’s own Denton Mateychuk, but he looks like a fixture on the Blue Jackets blue line for years to come. So, maybe they add a D prospect that is on the precipice of becoming an NHL regular.
Florida Panthers
According to Puck Pedia, GM Bill Zito still has roughly US$7 million in cap space after Sunday’s move to sign/add two goalies and a defenceman, so Hellebuyck could very much still be in play, depending on what happens with pending unrestricted free agent Sergei Bobrovsky.
Adding a physical and mobile blue-liner would make a lot of sense and Niko Mikkola fits the criteria perfectly. Not only would Mikkola add some edge, he’s under contract for five more seasons with an average annual value of US$5 million and he doesn’t have any trade protection.
San Jose Sharks
The Sharks have Russian goalie Yaroslav Askorov and the Jets’ organization watched him a bunch during his time with the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League, so he would conceivably be part of the return.
If the Jets were more interested in an NHL ready player, Michael Misa would be a prime target at centre and William Eklund is a winger with high-end scoring potential. However, Misa isn’t likely in play unless the Jets look at a bigger deal that might include another core piece going out the door.
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Ken Wiebe is a sports reporter for the Free Press, with an emphasis on the Winnipeg Jets. He has covered hockey and provided analysis in this market since 2000 for the Winnipeg Sun, The Athletic, Sportsnet.ca and TSN. Ken was a summer intern at the Free Press in 1999 and returned to the Free Press in a full-time capacity in September of 2023. Read more about Ken.
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