Asked whether the star goalie has requested a trade, Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff did not offer a definitive answer — but did say he is fielding trade offers.
“At the end of the day, we both chose to sign a seven-year extension. There’s risk on both sides,” Cheveldayoff said. “As an organization, it’s incumbent on you to listen, and that’s what we’ve done to this point. … What I’ve been hearing hasn’t made me act. The best answer is I’m still listening.”
Hellebuyck has five more seasons left on his deal, worth $8.5 million annually.
The 2025 Hart and Vezina Trophy winner is coming off a down season with the Jets, posting a 2.86 goals-against average and .895 save percentage, but he starred for Team USA in a golden effort at the Milano-Cortina Olympics.
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His American teammate, Brady Tkachuk, recently requested a trade out of a Canadian market to join his brother, Matthew, in Florida.
“We’re living in different times. … I think this situation is probably different than other situations where players moving forward expressed that they weren’t going to sign,” Cheveldayoff said. “We have a contract for five years, and that’s the reality of the business world.”
Hellebucyk also featured on Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos’ trade board, though the insider said the Jets did not feel pressure to move their star goalie.
Cheveldayoff added that he has had private talks with Hellebuyck but refused to offer details.
“Those are conversations that I have with a player. I don’t have to talk about every conversation I have with a player,” he said.