A Sept. 15, 2026 roundup in The Hockey News said there has been no sign of progress in Connor Hellebuyck trade talks as training camp approaches, while Jake DeBrusk told Sportsnet he never asked for a trade from Vancouver and still believes he can help the Canucks.
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The Hockey News said in a Sept. 15, 2026 roundup that there has been no indication the Winnipeg Jets are any closer to trading goaltender Connor Hellebuyck as training camp approaches. It said Hellebuyck made a trade request public last month, but that has not prompted general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff to accelerate a move.
The roundup cited Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman as saying Hellebuyck’s list of preferred destinations is “much, much wider” than those of other players who have requested trades this summer. Friedman was not said to have specified the exact size of the list, though the roundup suggested it could be as many as 10 teams.
The Hockey News' Jake Tye also cited TSN’s Darren Dreger as saying Hellebuyck has not been moved because offers from interested teams have been “terrible,” with clubs looking for a “bargain-basement price.” The roundup added that the Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes and Utah Mammoth have been mentioned frequently as possible landing spots.
It also described “very mixed messaging” around the New Jersey Devils. Some believe the Devils could be interested in Hellebuyck, while other reports have said they are not interested in the three-time Vezina Trophy winner.
New Jersey Hockey Now writer James Nichols, as cited in the roundup, was skeptical of that fit because the Devils have $1.85 million in salary-cap space. Even if Winnipeg retained part of Hellebuyck’s $8.5 million average annual value, New Jersey would still need to move out salary to complete a trade.
Nichols also pointed to roster-fit questions, including New Jersey’s three-goalie setup with Jake Allen, David Rittich and Nico Daws. The roundup said it is generally believed Winnipeg would want a goalie back in any deal, though the available options may not match what such a trade would require.
On Vancouver, the roundup said Jake DeBrusk clarified comments he made last season about the possibility of playing for a rebuilding team. DeBrusk is signed through 2030-31 with a $5.5 million AAV and a full no-movement clause.
The roundup said DeBrusk told Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre last week that he never asked for a trade and still believes he can help Vancouver. It characterized his original remarks as coming during an emotional season and said he clarified them the following day. It also said off-season reports claimed several teams, including the Ottawa Senators, checked his availability, though DeBrusk has not requested a trade.
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