Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, 33, might be leaving the Winnipeg cold for the Florida sun in a bold trade scenario ahead of the NHL free agency.

NHL Rumour Report on X alluded to a recent episode of the Real Kyper & Bourne podcast in which hockey analyst Nick Kypreos mentioned how it might happen.

“Nick Kypreos: Re Panthers: If you move off of Sergei Bobrovsky, can you slide Connor Hellebuyck's $8.5m in there and work something around the 9th overall pick to Winnipeg - Real Kyper & Bourne (6/17),” read their post on X.

If Kypreos is to be believed, the Panthers have an interest in Hellebuyck to replace Sergei Bobrovsky in a trade deal with the Winnipeg Jets for future considerations.

The 37-year-old Russian will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 of this year, just one season after winning the Stanley Cup back-to-back. He wants a highly ambitious $42 million contract for six or seven years, according to Kypreos in a report published in Sportsnet.

Goaltenders can stretch their careers due to the lack of intense physical exertion on the ice compared to the other players. But still, the demands of Bobrovsky, who is set to turn 38 on September 20, could be very difficult for the Panthers to accept as it is.

If they do, then he will be near the age of 45 when the potential new contract extension between them charts its course.

With that, Florida needs to either get him to ink a new deal on their own terms or find other options, and who could be better than Hellebuyck?

Moreover, Hellebuyck, who is signed till the 2030-31 season, also has some interest coming his way from the Buffalo Sabres and the Detroit Red Wings. That becomes another reason for Florida to act soon, whatever their call is.

In the end, the age factor is the biggest reason why Florida will have to push for Hellebuyck if Bobrovsky walks away with his demands in tow.

What has Connor Hellebuyck done in his NHL career with the Winnipeg Jets?

Connor Hellebuyck was selected as the No. 130 pick in the 2012 NHL Draft before waiting for over three years to play for the Winnipeg Jets. During this time period, he competed for the U. Mass-Lowell in H-East and St John’s IceCaps in the AHL.

Hellebuyck made his NHL debut on November 27, 2015, and played 26 games in the 2015-16 season before going back to the AHL with the Manitoba Moose.

The Commerce Township, Michigan, native never really looked back after the 2016-17 season with the Jets. In his 11 seasons with them, he has made 625 appearances for a 345-208-55 record with 45 shutouts.

It includes 615 saves and a save percentage of .916, along with a 2.25 goals-against average.

During these 11 seasons of Hellebuyck, Winnipeg has made the Stanley Cup Playoffs seven times. They lost the Western Conference Final in 2017-18 to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games.

The Jets also finished on top of the Central Division for the first time ever in the 2024-25 season with a 56-22-4 record for 116 points to clinch the President’s Trophy.

Moreover, Hellebuyck won the William M. Jennings Trophy twice in 2024 and 2025 for goalies allowing the fewest goals during the regular season (Min. 25 games).

He has been honored with the Vezina Trophy for the NHL’s best goalie three times in 2020, 2024, and 2025. The Hart Memorial Trophy also came his way in 2025 for being the most valuable player for his team.

Will Connor Hellebuyck stay with the Winnipeg Jets or look at the Florida Panthers as an option? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section.

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Written by

Arjun Sharma

Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason