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Connor Hellebuyck remains a member of the Winnipeg Jets, for now.
He's an obvious trade candidate this offseason, though, with some speculation that he has even requested a deal. The Florida Panthers loom as an obvious potential destination, if Sergei Bobrovsky doesn't return there.
Obviously, there's still a lot that could happen or change here, but that's the picture at the moment.
And on Thursday, NHL insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported a notable update on all that is going on with Hellebuyck right now.
"The noise isn’t as loud in another part of Canada as it is in Edmonton right now, but it’s starting to mount," Pagnotta wrote. "As we reported last month, teams had been calling the Winnipeg Jets about goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who has a full no-movement clause, after his season-ended remarks sparked speculation over his future with the club. Hellebuyck, 33, is entering the third season of a seven-year, $59.5 million contract, and it is clear he wants to chase a Stanley Cup. He wanted to do so with the Jets, but after a rough season for everyone, his tune started to change."
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Hellebuyck is coming off his worst season in the NHL, but he also won a gold medal with the United States. The feeling is likely that he'll perform better on a better team.
Can Winnipeg put an improved roster on the ice in time? That's a tough thing to answer, and Hellebuyck may not want to wait around to find out.
"The Jets are not actively shopping Hellebuyck and do not want to move him, by every indication I’ve been given, but if the netminder wants out, Winnipeg will have to navigate the trade waters," Pagnotta writes.
Hellebucyk would certainly be a headline-grabbing acquisition for another team, so this will be one to watch until there's some kind of conclusion.
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