Report: Buffalo Sabres Reject Winnipeg Jets' Ask For Connor Hellebuyck

The Connor Hellebuyck situation continues to be fluid as we approach the draft and beyond. One team that has been linked to having serious interest in trading for the three-time Vezina Trophy winner is the Buffalo Sabres. But as of now, that interest is no more. 

According to insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, Buffalo rejected the Jets' pricey ask:

The Buffalo Sabres have had significant interest in Connor Hellebuyck. But my understanding… is that the Sabres have declined the ask from the Winnipeg Jets. I believe it involved the No. 4 pick, and there are other roster players from Buffalo involved in this as well. But as of this moment, Buffalo and Hellebuyck is nonexistent. 

Another report, from Jets beat writer Murat Ates, gives a bit more detail on the Buffalo-Winnipeg conversations.

Update: My understanding is that BUF's offer included the No. 4, a roster player, and a prospect but WPG was unwilling to include the No. 8.

As much as I may think WPG/BUF should be able to find a fit, my -current- expectation is that BUF keeps No. 4 and takes Malhotra if it can

— Murat Ates (@WPGMurat) June 26, 2026

Ates is reporting that the Sabres were including the 4th pick, a roster player, plus a prospect. But he says that the Jets were unwilling to include the 8th pick in Friday night's draft as part of the deal.

Other teams are still having conversations with the Jets on Hellebuyck, including the Florida Panthers and New Jersey Devils, among others. 

But Pagnotta reasserts that the Sabres are indeed shopping the No. 4 pick and we'll have to keep an eye on that right down to the wire. 

Buffalo acquired that pick in a trade package for Bowen Byram earlier this week.