The Winnipeg Jets may have no choice but to trade a big-name player
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Daniel Lucente
Apr 27, 2026 (2:41 PM)
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Photo credit: © David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Connor Hellebuyck put the Winnipeg Jets core on notice, and Kyle Connor may not be the only big name in play.
This is bigger than one scorer.
The Jets finished 35-35-12, seventh in the Central, after winning the Presidents' Trophy one year earlier.
That kind of fall changes every meeting from here on out.
Kyle Connor's name makes sense because elite wingers carry trade value, and his 39-53-92 season still screams top-six driver.
But Hellebuyck's comments are the sharper signal.
Jets Could Trade a a BIG-Name Player This Offseason
He said winning a Stanley Cup is what he has left, then questioned whether Winnipeg can get the needed pieces.
That is not a casual exit quote.
Connor Hellebuyck Forces Winnipeg Jets Decision
Jets fans should feel nervous, because Hellebuyck sounded loyal and restless at the same time.
He went 23-23-11 with a 2.86 GAA and .895 save percentage, a sharp comedown by his own standard.
Winnipeg still has high-end finishers, but the middle of the ice did not protect leads or feed clean exits.
If Connor goes, the return must fix center depth or the blue line.
If Hellebuyck goes, the Jets lose the one player who can cover roster cracks for months.
That is why this offseason is dangerous.
Cheveldayoff cannot sell comfort after Hellebuyck said the same product did not work for a reason.
The Jets do not need noise.
They need a hard answer before this core becomes a countdown.
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