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Connor Hellebuyck is done in Winnipeg.
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Connor Hellebuyck is done in Winnipeg.

NHL insiders leave no doubt about the future of the Winnipeg Jets star goaltender.

Jonathan Larivee

There has been a great deal of speculation over the course of the past several weeks as it pertains to the future of Winnipeg Jets star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.

Hellebuyck has consistently been among the top goaltenders in the National Hockey League during his tenure in Winnipeg and if he were to become available it likely would lead to a bidding war between several teams around the league who could use an upgrade at the goaltending position.

On Saturday, a trio of NHL insiders revealed that we are very likely to get that bidding war this summer when they dropped a bombshell update on Hellebuyck's future in Winnipeg. In an article published for The Athletic, insiders Pierre LeBrun, Eric Duhatschek and Michael Russo made it very clear that Hellebuyck no longer sees a future with the Winnipeg Jets.

From The Athletic:

And there should be no confusion about whether Hellebuyck has interest in signing an extension in Winnipeg. That ship has sailed. His next contract will be with a new team.

There is no scenario in which the Jets will allow Hellebuyck to play out the final year of his contract and walk away as a free agent, and the only question now given this new information is when will Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff pull the trigger on a trade?

The time at which opposing teams will have the most flexibility, and the most assets to give up in a package, will be at the upcoming NHL Draft and that is around the time when I would expect a trade of this nature to happen. The Jets could instead keep Hellebuyck until the NHL trade deadline and move him as a rental to a contender at that time, but you have to believe that would result in a smaller return for the Jets.

There will be no shortage of demand for Hellebuyck who, despite being among the NHL's premier goaltenders, carries a cap hit of just $6.16 million per season in the final year of his deal. Hellebuyck would also be eligible to sign an extension with any team that manages to pry him from the Jets, making the prospect of acquiring the star netminder all the more enticing.