CBC Lite Sections News • Canada • Manitoba Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck goes public with trade request Adam Treusch | CBC News | Posted: August 27, 2026 7:58 PM | Last Updated: August 27 'I have tried to handle the situation quietly and respectfully,' star player says in statement Image | Jets Stars Hockey Caption: Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, shown playing against the Stars in Dallas in April, said in a statement Thursday that he privately requested a trade from the Jets several months ago. (Tony Gutierrez/The Associated Press) (BUTTON) Load image Open image in new tab Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who has won an Olympic gold medal along with three Vezina trophies as the NHL's top netminder, has publicly requested a trade. Hockey journalists and fans have been speculating about the star's future for months. He confirmed in a statement distributed by his agent Thursday afternoon that he privately requested a trade from the Jets several months ago. Hellebuyck said he has "tried to handle the situation quietly and respectfully while giving the organization time to explore its options." "With training camp approaching, I felt it was important to publicly confirm my request," his statement said, adding he believes "moving on is the best path forward" for him and his family. "I appreciate everything Winnipeg Jets fans have meant to me throughout my career and hope a resolution can be reached soon." Hellebuyck, 33, is from Michigan. In a rare feat, he was named both the league's most valuable player and top goalie after the 2024-25 NHL season, when the Jets finished with the league's best record for the first time in franchise history. Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said in a statement later Thursday afternoon he had no update on his star goalie's future with the team. Hellebuyck "has been open with us about his desire for a change," said Cheveldayoff, calling the goalie "an important part of the Winnipeg Jets organization for many years." "We have tremendous respect for what he has accomplished here," and the team "will continue to work through the situation in a thoughtful manner," he said. * Jets goaltender Hellebuyck cements spectacular campaign with Hart, Vezina awards Hellebuyck said in his statement that he'll never forget when the Jets drafted him in the fifth round (130th overall) of the NHL draft in June 2012. "I gave everything I had from that moment to prove that the Jets made the right decision," his statement reads in part. U.S. President Donald Trump gave Hellebuyck — who made 41 saves on 42 shots for the United States in the Olympic gold-medal game against Canada at the Milano-Cortina Winter Games earlier this year — the Presidential Medal of Freedom in Washington, D.C., earlier this year. The medal is the highest civilian honour for United States citizens. Hellebuyck has been a finalist for the Vezina Trophy five times. More Stories Like This The related links below are generated automatically based on the story you’ve just read. Loading... CBC Lite is a low-bandwidth website. To see what's new, check out our release notes. For high quality images, media, comments, and other additional features visit the full version of this story. We and select advertising partners use trackers to collect some of your data in order to enhance your experience and to deliver personalized content and advertising. If you are not comfortable with the use of this information, please review your device and browser privacy settings before continuing your visit. Learn more about Online Tracking and Privacy Choices. * Corrections and Clarifications * Terms of Use * Reuse & Permission * Privacy Notice * Accessibility * Contact a Newsroom * Submit Feedback * Lite Help Centre * Jobs * RSS CBC Lite version: 1.9.0. © 2026 CBC/Radio-Canada. All rights reserved.