Report: Hellebuyck not interested in signing long-term deal with Jets

The Winnipeg Jets are moving through their “Matthew Tkachuk Situation” with several star players.

At the top of that list is franchise goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who is not interested in signing a long-term deal with the Jets, according to The Athletic's Murat Ates.

“And there should be no confusion about Hellake's interest in signing an extension in Winnipeg. That ship has sailed. His next contract will be with a new team,” Ates wrote on Saturday.

Hellebuyck, a Vezina Trophy finalist for the third time in six seasons, has one year left on his current $6.16 million deal. Although he's eligible for a new deal with Winnipeg starting July 1, Hellebuyck has been linked with the Leafs, Kings, Senators, Hurricanes, Devils, Penguins, Golden Knights and more. is considered one of the best trade candidates in the league this season with teams like changes as potential destinations for an elite netminder.

Daily Faceoff's Frank Serravalli ranked Hellbuyck #2 on his top 25 “trade targets board” a few weeks ago, selecting him and the Jets' star trio of forwards in Mark Scheifele, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Blake Wheeler as some of the most compelling options. Available via trade this offseason as the Jets continue to get younger as they transition to a core led by Nikolaj Ehlers and Kyle Connor.

In Saturday's conversation, Ates also acknowledged that Dubois, who has said he will not re-sign and has requested a trade, and star center Mark Scheifele will both be dealt.

Winnipeg drafted Hellebuyck in the fifth round in 2012, and he has held starting power in the Jets crease since the 30-year-old's 2016-17 campaign. He has a .916 career save percentage and has led the Jets to the Stanley Cup playoffs in five of the last six years, establishing himself as a perennial star in the process.

The Golden Knights, who won the franchise's first Stanley Cup after defeating the Panthers in Game 4 on Saturday night, knocked the Jets out of the first round of the playoffs this spring.

Winnipeg is expected to make significant roster changes this summer, with several of the aforementioned stars on the trade block and several other assets set to depart in free agency.