Hellebuyck Won’t Waive No-Move Clause for Canadian Teams
TSN’s Pierre LeBrun says Connor Hellebuyck will not waive his no-move clause for a trade to a Canadian team, cooling speculation about the Edmonton Oilers. The…
October 6, 2026: Connor Hellebuyck will not waive his no-move clause for a trade to a Canadian team, TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun said, cooling speculation that the Winnipeg Jets goaltender could join the Edmonton Oilers. Hellebuyck remains suspended without pay after failing to report to training camp following his trade request.
The stance narrows the path for Canadian clubs pursuing the three-time trophy winner. Carolina and Buffalo are among the best-known suitors, while the Jets have not agreed to move Hellebuyck or set a timetable for a trade.
“People have wondered about Edmonton for Connor Hellebuyck, he’s not gonna play in Canada. So, please let’s stop with that. That’s not happening,” LeBrun said on TSN 1050’s OverDrive on Monday.
That rules out more than Edmonton, according to LeBrun: Hellebuyck will not waive his clause for a deal that keeps him north of the border. His preference puts the focus on potential U.S. destinations, but no trade has materialized.
Connor Hellebuyck trade leaves Winnipeg weighing its price
LeBrun said Carolina remains interested but does not believe Winnipeg has enough leverage to force the Hurricanes to improve their current offer. The source did not specify the terms of that offer.
Hellebuyck made his trade request public last month, hoping to prompt a deal before the season. The Jets have held firm that they will not move the goaltender until a team meets their asking price.
Winnipeg general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has declined to give a timeline. “You don’t have a crystal ball,” he told TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger last week, saying conversations with Hellebuyck’s representatives had made clear the process “could take a while.”
Cheveldayoff said the team would decide what a return means for its plans when a trade offer presents itself. For Winnipeg, that leaves the roster question open even as the season begins without its starting goaltender.
The Jets have opened 2-0-1 without Hellebuyck. Stuart Skinner has seen action in two games, and Clay Stevenson earned a win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday, according to TSN.
Edmonton has also started 2-0-1, using Devon Levi and Tristan Jarry while Frederik Andersen remains sidelined with an offseason knee injury. The Oilers’ goaltenders have allowed 14 goals across their first three games, a pressure point that helps explain the speculation about Hellebuyck. His refusal to consider a Canadian destination, however, shuts down that route for Edmonton.
A major contract and uneven recent numbers
Hellebuyck is coming off a difficult statistical season after winning the Hart, Vezina and William M. Jennings trophies in 2025. He appeared in 57 games in 2025-26, his fewest since the 2020-21 season, and recorded a .895 save percentage, a 2.86 goals-against average and a 23-23-11 record.
He also started five games for Team USA at the Olympics, helping the team win gold. The 33-year-old signed an extension in October 2023 carrying an annual salary-cap hit of $8.5 million through the 2030-31 season.
That contract and Winnipeg’s asking price give the trade discussions significant weight for any interested club. For now, the clearest next step depends on whether a team outside Canada can meet the Jets’ terms; Cheveldayoff has left the timing undefined.
Source: tsn.ca
