Hellebuyck’s Jets exit nearly got far uglier

Connor Hellebuyck’s departure from the Winnipeg Jets nearly got much uglier.

According to NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, the trade almost imploded in a very public way.

Hellebuyck had made it clear he no longer wanted to play for Winnipeg.

The star goaltender sat on the sidelines, suspended without pay.

Everything seemed to hit a breaking point as he returned from his suspension in late October.

Friedman shed insight on Hellebuyck’s final days with the Jets on the latest episode of 32 Thoughts.

“One of the reasons the trade happened when it did was because… Hellebuyck was going to go into Winnipeg on the Friday of the Heritage Classic because that was the day the suspension ended,” Friedman said.

“The Jets were going to have to pay him. And he had to come in there to do his physical.”

Then came the part that made Winnipeg nervous.

“And somebody told me, after this was over, that Hellebuyck wanted to talk to the media,” Friedman continued.

“At that point in time, he still wasn’t traded. I think he had some things he wanted to say. And I think it was with the goal of kind of forcing the trade to happen.”

Hellebuyck was traded on the exact day his suspension ended.

He was shipped to the New Jersey Devils for Dawson Mercer, Nick Bjugstad, Nico Daws, Alexander Command (12th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft), a 2029 2nd round pick, and a 2027 7th round pick.

The timing was not a coincidence.

It sounded like Hellebuyck wanted to speak to the media after Winnipeg hosted the Heritage Classic on Sunday, Oct. 25.

If the Jets were concerned about Hellebuyck’s public comments, there was certainly a pressure point to get the trade done.

Friedman went on to suggest the Jets were nervous about what Hellebuyck could have said to the media if his goal of speaking publicly was to force a trade.

Winnipeg, being a smaller market team in the middle of the Prairies, has historically struggled to attract free agents.

Of course, that becomes even tougher when you don’t have a Vezina-calibre goaltender like Hellebuyck manning the crease.

“If Hellebuyck said anything that [Winnipeg] thought would make it harder for them to recruit players, they were going to respond in kind,” Friedman said.

“And this was going to get into new depths of ugly.”

The trade itself had been brewing for months.

Hellebuyck is arguably the best player in the history of the Winnipeg Jets, leading the franchise with 125 point shares.

But his relationship with the organization soured.

‘Very challenging’ family circumstances played a role in Hellebuyck’s trade demand, according to multiple reports.

The goaltender cited personal reasons for wanting out of Winnipeg.

Those circumstances were serious enough that the Jets eventually agreed to move him.

But the negotiation process was not smooth.

Other teams were also in the mix.

The Buffalo Sabres were among the most aggressive suitors.

Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen later revealed that Winnipeg’s asking price was too high.

“You make a big move once, and you’re out of other ones a lot of times,” Kekalainen told Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News.

“There may be other areas that we feel we need to address more. And there’s the price of doing business.”

“If I can tell you what (Winnipeg) was asking to take off our team, most of the people screaming to get Hellebuyck would probably say, ‘No way, don’t do it.'”

Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos reported in July that Winnipeg’s initial ask from Buffalo was headlined by rising star Zach Benson.

The Sabres ultimately passed.

New Jersey did not.

The Devils gave up a significant package to land Hellebuyck.

And the early returns have been promising.

Hellebuyck looked impressive in New Jersey’s 5-2 road win against the Golden Knights in Vegas.

He arrived refreshed after leaving a Jets team that had lost nine consecutive games.

He immediately earned a win with his new team.

The Eastern Conference also appears open.

Florida and Tampa Bay are getting older.

Boston may need more scoring.

Montreal has been inconsistent.

With Hellebuyck playing well, the Devils have enough elsewhere on the roster to reach the Stanley Cup Final and potentially win it.

There may also be an added motivation factor for Hellebuyck.

After forcing his way out, he now has an opportunity to justify the move.

New Jersey gave up a significant amount to acquire him, creating immediate expectations for both the goaltender and the team.

His arrival could also energize a dressing room that previously relied on Jake Allen, a career backup.

The conversation around Hellebuyck’s move has also touched on the rising number of superstar players seeking changes.

Players like Dylan Larkin in Detroit and Nikita Kucherov in Tampa Bay have also been linked to trade speculation.

Hellebuyck’s successful move could encourage other players and agents to believe they have enough leverage to force trades.

However, teams still have options when players request moves during the season.