Report: 95% Chance Hellebuyck Is Traded This Offseason

It'll be a tough pill for Winnipeg Jets fans to hear, but according to longtime Jets beat writer Mike McInytre of the Winnipeg Free Press, Connor Hellebuyck is almost certainly getting traded this summer. 

The rumors have been floating around since the three-time Vezina Trophy winner made it clear at his exit interviews that the Jets season was "unacceptable". It was painful watching him try to answer a reporter's question about if he was considering his future with the team. 

Talks were held with the Buffalo Sabres around the time of the NHL Draft, though nothing came to pass. The Carolina Hurricanes were involved at one point, and the Colorado Avalanche have entered the discussions more recently. 

At some point, one of these teams may crack and give the Jets the deservedly high price they're asking for. McIntyre is certain of it.

In fact, he feels there's a greater than 95% chance of the league's best goalie getting dealt. 

I firmly believe Connor Hellebuyck is going to be traded. In fact, I’d put the odds somewhere north of 95 per cent. I just don’t know exactly when, or to whom... 

The writing is on the wall here in Winnipeg. Hellebuyck is (almost certainly) moving on. 

McIntyre cites two pretty convincing arguments that have his odds so high of a move. 

• They let Hellebuyck's backup and best friend, Eric Comrie, leave in free agency. 

• The Jets' signing of UFA goalie Stuart Skinner. What makes this a glaring sign, in addition to the fact that Skinner has been a starter throughout his career and would expect to be one again in signing his two-year deal with Winnipeg, is the fact that he and Hellebuyck share the same agent:

"Skinner’s agent, Ray Petkau, is also Hellebuyck’s agent (and Comrie’s!). You think he’s selling Skinner on the concept of Winnipeg if he thinks Hellebuyck is still going to be here? Of course not."

McIntyre still feels that Buffalo is the frontrunner to eventually land Hellebuyck, but San Jose (Comrie's new team) can't be ignored here, either. 

Either way, it seems like the Jets' 33-year-old Olympic Gold Medal-winning goalie will have a new address come the 2026-27 season.