Jets' Connor Hellebuyck has 3 teams pursuing blockbuster trade

Connor Hellebuyck remains involved in trade rumors, and given how deals are flying around the NHL already this offseason, it's safe to think the Winnipeg Jets goalie could be next.

The former Vezina winner is also a gold medalist with Team USA in the 2026 Winter Olympics. As far as goalie acquisitions go, it'd be hard to do better.

At least three teams are interested at the moment.

The popular name, floated most recently in a rumor from NHL writer Marco D'Amico, is the Florida Panthers. They're expected to lose Sergei Bobrovsky this offseason, and so they'd need a replacement in net. It'd be hard to get someone better than Hellebuyck.

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Another rumor from D'Amico: the Buffalo Sabres. Buffalo has a lot of goalies, but no clear-cut No. 1. Hellebuyck would be that.

And he also threw out the Toronto Maple Leafs, who also have a lot of goalies but would certainly have Hellebuyck as their top man in net.

Other teams involved. Heard Leafs kicked tires, as well as Buffalo.

Hellebuyck has control here. He'd have to approve any trade.

But the more teams that want him, the better chance the Jets have of pulling off a deal that everyone can be happy about.

It'd make some sense for a trade to happen before Friday's NHL Draft first round gets underway, just for knowing proper trade valuations. But it could also drag on if Hellebuyck makes it tough on Winnipeg, so stay tuned. This could happen fast, or it could be a while.

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