The Winnipeg Jets did not have the 2025-2026 season they were hoping for as the team surprisingly missed out on postseason contention just a year removed from their Presidents trophy win. It was an average club as they finished exactly .500 with a 35-35-12 record, which gave them 82 points in the standings.
This disappointing campaign has brought to question what direction they go in from here. Do the Jets write off last year as a fluke and load up over the summer in the hopes of returning to the playoffs? Or do they decide to move on from this core and enter a rebuild?
One player whose future with the organization is in doubt is top goaltender Connor Hellebucyk. Hellebucyk could be a potent trade target for Winnipeg if they opt to retool over the offseason.
Winnipeg Could Consider a Hellebucyk Trade
Insider David Pagnotta believes there is traction to this possibility, as he stated on DFO Rundown: “There is some speculation within the league that…there may be a play to make for Connor Hellebuyck; I’m not saying the Jets are trying to trade him; there are some people…that believe there might be an opportunity to explore it.”
The Jets would be hesitant to move on from their franchise goalie. It would have to be a haul of a return to make the trade worthwhile for them. But, it could be an option to get the ball rolling on accumulating assets in the hopes of fast tracking what looks to be an inevitable rebuild approaching soon. There are few other players on this team that would garner the type of king’s ransom return that Hellebucyk would provide them.
This would not be the first core player to depart the organization. Winnipeg has already moved on from some key players from this group, including Nikolai Ehlers last summer. This loss hit the team hard as they failed to replace his production on an offense that struggled to get on the board, besides the top line of Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor and Gabriel Vilardi.
Hellebucyk Would be Coveted Throughout the League
There is no doubt many teams around the NHL would covet Hellebucyk’s services. Elite goaltenders like him are hard to come by in this league. There is arguably nothing more important for team success than having a reliable netminder that can be counted on in the key moments, especially come playoff time.
While Hellebucyk did not enjoy his best season with Winnipeg, he still found success this past year outside of his Jets duties. He helped backstop Team USA to a gold medal in the 2026 Olympics, putting on a sensational performance versus Team Canada in the final game.
Hellebucyk has won many awards; his trophy case includes three Vezina’s, two Jennings and the Hart. He has amassed a 345-208-55 record across his 625 career regular season starts with Winnipeg spread across 11 years.
It will be interesting to see what happens with Hellebucyk. His current contract does not expire until 2031, so he has time left if the Jets decide to keep him around for the long haul.
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