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With training camp on the near horizon, star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck went public with his request to be traded by the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday. Hellebuyck’s five paragraph statement was released through social media by his agent Ray Petkau. It’s not shocking that Hellebuyck wants out of Winnipeg nor that he requested a trade. In fact, the Jets reportedly came close to dealing the 33-year-old to the Buffalo Sabres earlier this offseason. The bigger surprise here is that Hellebuyck decided to make the request public, though that now clearly shifts even more pressure on the collective shoulders of Jets management to get a trade done. Hellebuyck didn’t state whether he plans to report to training camp if a trade isn’t finalized beforehand. But it sure doesn’t sound like he’ll show up. “Several months ago, I privately requested a trade,” Hellebuyck said in the statement. “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.” Connor Hellebuyck seeks move from Jets after 11 NHL seasons Hellebuyck’s spent his entire career with the Jets, since they selected him in the fifth round (No. 130 overall) in the 2012 NHL Draft. He’s one of the most decorated goalies currently playing in the League. He’s a three-time Vezina Trophy winner as top NHL goalie, and the 2024-25 Hart Trophy winner as League MVP. This past February, Hellebuyck added to his Hall-of-Fame resume by leading the United States to the gold medal at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. His epic 41-save performance in the 2-1 overtime victory against Canada in the gold medal game is one for the ages. However, things turned a bit sour for the goalie and his NHL team last season. Hellebuyck played through a painful knee injury before finally undergoing a minor arthroscopic procedure. He still started 57 games for the Jets, but his numbers dropped off considerably from his usual high standards. Hellebuyck was 23-23-11 with a 2.86 goals-against average and career-worst .896 save percentage. What made those stats stand out even more is that the year prior he won both the Hart and Vezina Trophies after leading the Jets to the Presidents’ Trophy. He was 47-12-3 in 2024-25 with a 2.00 GAA, .925 save percentage, and League-high eight shutouts, as the Jets finished first overall in the regular season. But last season the Jets failed to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for just the second time in nine years. What’s next for Jets, Connor Hellebuyck after public trade request Hellebuyck is Winnipeg’s most valuable and irreplaceable player. So, they’d expect a haul in return should they — as expected — trade him. The Jets did sign Stuart Skinner in free agency to be Hellebuyck’s backup, or possible replacement in case of a trade. The 27-year-old helped the Edmonton Oilers reach the Stanley Cup Final in consecutive years — 2024 and 2025 — though they lost each time to the Florida Panthers. Should the Sabres, for argument’s sake, be the frontrunner to land Hellebuyck, they likely need to include a goaltender in any trade package. The Jets might have the most interest in Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who’s 27 and been a No. 1 in the NHL. However, he had health issues last season, and been inconsistent throughout his career, though could be a solid 1-2 complement with Skinner. Alex Lyon and Colton Ellis are not sexy names, but each goalie played a key role in helping the Sabres get back into the postseason in 2025-26. It’s hard to see Winnipeg winning any trade that involved Hellebuyck, though his recent injury and advancing age could lead to a downturn in his play moving forward. Hellebuyck has five years with an annual salary-cap hit of $8.5 million remaining on his contract through 2030-31.