Viral post on social media reports Connor Hellebuyck requesting a trade with three teams attached
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Daniel Lucente
Jun 10, 2026 (4:47 PM)
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Photo credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
A viral post from the account PuckEmpire claims Connor Hellebuyck has formally requested a trade from the Winnipeg Jets to Florida, Tampa Bay, or Vegas.
That post has not been confirmed by a single tier-one NHL insider. Elliotte Friedman has not reported on it.
Pierre LeBrun has not touched it either. HFBoards moderators flagged it as unsubstantiated, and multiple users identified the post as likely parody.
A franchise goalie demanding out is front-page news, and this did not break that way.
But here is what makes the rumor stick even if the source does not. Florida currently has zero NHL goaltenders under contract for the 2026-27 season.
Sergei Bobrovsky's seven-year, $70 million deal expired, making him an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
The Hockey News reported weeks ago that the Panthers have genuine interest in Hellebuyck as they navigate their crease crisis.
Florida's goaltending void existed before this tweet
Bill Zito kept Bobrovsky at the trade deadline in March and publicly committed to re-signing him. That has not happened yet.
Bobrovsky turns 38 before opening night and reportedly still wants term on his next deal, which is a steep ask for a goalie coming off a sub-.900 save percentage in his age-37 season.
Meanwhile Hellebuyck carries a full no-movement clause through 2026-27, meaning Winnipeg cannot move him anywhere without his explicit consent.
He controls the entire process.
If Florida is on his list of acceptable destinations, Cheveldayoff would have a willing trade partner with approximately $15.2 million in projected cap space and a genuine need between the pipes.
The tweet is noise but the trade market is real
Hellebuyck went 23-23-11 with a .895 save percentage behind a Jets team that finished 26th overall at 35-35-12.
His frustration after the season was public and documented.
Whether or not he has formally requested anything, the conditions for a trade already exist without a viral post to manufacture them.
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