The Winnipeg Jets have announced their decision to re-sign their goaltender, Isaac Poulter, to a one-year contract extension for the 2026-27 season.

The signing worth $885,000 was announced on June 18 by the Jets' official page on X. The 24-year-old Winnipeg native has spent most of his development years starting from the lower levels of the Jets. 

Poulter spent the majority of the 2025-26 season in the ECHL with the Norfolk Admirals, where he held a record of  25-17-1 with a 2.76 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage, with two shutouts. 

He appeared in three games with the AHL's Manitoba Moose, and went 2-0-0 with a 2.83 GAA and .885 save percentage. Poulter, who was still undrafted back then, started with the New Jersey Devils. He was set to become a restricted free agent before this extension.

The deal is considered a low-risk depth move that just adds another option for the Jets in goaltending. Keeping young goalies who have proven themselves at the professional level does give the team assurance, while giving the player another opportunity to improve. 

Poulter has not yet given such assurance fully, but this extension does give him that chance to keep improving while remaining part of Winnipeg's plan.

Meanwhile, TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reported this week that the team's general manager, Kevin Cheveldayoff, is willing to make trade calls regarding Connor Hellebuyck. 

Trade speculation continues around Connor Hellebuyck

Hellebuyck's future with the Jets has been a buzzing topic since the team missed the playoffs following their Presidents' Trophy-winning season a year earlier. 

After expressing his disappointment with their performance publicly at the end of the season, speculation regarding his future with the team grew. Dreger noted that, in trade calls, Winnipeg and Cheveldayoff are at a minimum where listening is necessary.

Hellebuyck, 33, made 23-23-11 last season with a 2.86 goals-against average and a .895 save percentage. These numbers are weaker when compared to the dominant form he showed in the 2024-25 season with a 47-12-3 record.

He is currently in year three of a seven-year contract worth $8.5 million annually and has a full no-move clause till next July. 

This clause means that Hellebuyck holds full control over any potential move, and any trade discussion would need to have his input.

Any team wanting to acquire Hellebuyck knows very well that they would be getting one of the premier goalies in the sport. This means that Winnipeg would expect a huge return in any potential deal.

What do you think of the Jets' decision with Isaac Poulter and the chances of trading Hellebuyck? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Aadhya Nalla

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar