Western Conference Team Urged To Make Big Pitch For Hellebuyck

Tuesday, September 22, 2026 ,
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With all the talk about the Buffalo Sabres and the Carolina Hurricanes, there's a team out West that should think long and hard about swinging a deal for Connor Hellebuyck. That's the word from former NHL goalie and TSN hockey analyst Jamie McLennan.

Speaking on the Donnie & Dhali Show, McLennan urged the San Jose Sharks to make a pitch to the Winnipeg Jets for the three-time Vezina Trophy winner. 
If I'm San Jose, I take a pretty good look at him. They've got (younster Yaroslav) Askarov there. And that might be a scenario where Winnipeg can get themselves a really good young goaltender who's just learning how to become a No. 1. And Hellebuyck might fast track what's going on in San Jose.

To me, if I'm San Jose, I look at what Anaheim did last year, and I think that's what is in store for them—a dangerous team that is just getting better with experience. You add a Hellebuyck in there, it might be very interesting. Because San Jose has nothing but cap space and picks and prospects. You can make a pretty good deal there if I'm (Jets GM) Kevin Cheveldayoff and (Sharks GM) Mike Grier.

The 24-year-old Askarov won the starting job in San Jose last season, and in 47 starts, posted a 21-20-4 mark with an .883 save percentage and 3.63 goals-against average. He was the 11th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft by the Nashville Predators. That tied the mark for the highest-drafted goalie in the last 20 years. 

He established himself as a top netminder of the future over three excellent seasons in the AHL before making the jump last season. The Jets would certainly be getting a exciting successor between the pipes in this hypothetical scenario. 

As for the Sharks, they re-made their blueline this offseason with the likes of veterans Jacob Trouba, Nick Nurse and Michael Kesselring, and putting a former MVP in behind them would likely be a huge step up into contender status. 

In the meantime, Hellebuyck remains a camp holdout for the Jets while he awaits a trade. 

 

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