TSN insider Darren Dreger pushed away the trade speculation around Connor Hellebuyck on Thursday. He said the Winnipeg Jets are not actively looking to move away from their star goaltender. 

Dreger confirmed this when he appeared on TSN's OverDrive on June 18. This update comes after weeks of growing rumors that linked Hellebuyck to other teams as potential destinations across the league.

"I can confidently say that they're not shopping Connor Hellebuyck," Dreger said. "I don't have the information that he has formally asked for a trade..."

"...But I think that there's a clear sense that he wouldn't mind change and he's got trade protection," he later adds

While Dreger did not rule out the rumors entirely, the speculation surrounding Hellebuyck picked up right after Winnipeg's disappointing 2025-26 campaign. 

Many reports linked the 33-year-old to several potential destinations. And this ultimately raised questions about whether the Jets might consider a major roster restructure. 

A good number of teams around the league have checked on his availability, with the clubs making inquiries, but there’s no update on the Jets actively trading away their goaltender

Dreger's comments show us that Hellebuyck is a major key player in the team and will be a cornerstone as they prepare themselves for the next season. 

He remains under contract for the long term as he holds one of the strongest records in this era. Even after a difficult season, his previous record gives him more leverage than most players in a similar situation.

A down year compared to his previous standards

The speculation gained attention when Hellebuyck's 2025-26 season was a sharp downturn from the standards he had set in the previous seasons. 

He finished, holding a 23-23-11 record, a 2.86 goals-against average, a .895 save percentage, and no shutouts across 57 starts.

Those numbers were really a downgrade when compared to his 2024-25 campaign, when he held a 47-12-3 record, a 2.00 goals-against average, a .925 save percentage, and eight shutouts. This was all on the way to winning both the Hart Trophy and the Vezina Trophy. 

However, one bad season does not erase what Hellebuyck has built over his career. Earlier this year, he even helped Team USA win an Olympic gold, further holding a stronger stand among hockey's elite.

The trade rumors surrounding Hellebuyck may not disappear entirely for now. Dreger's update clears that Winnipeg’s interest would be the only thing holding it back from happening.

Read more at NHL Fan Central!

Written by

Aadhya Nalla

Edited by

Ankita Yadav