The latest NHL News on Friday is being driven by one potentially franchise-changing development: the Winnipeg Jets are listening to trade offers for Connor Hellebuyck.
Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff did not say that Hellebuyck has formally requested a trade, but he acknowledged that Winnipeg has listened to interested teams. His clearest description of the situation was that he is “still listening,” although no offer has convinced him to act.
That distinction matters. Hellebuyck is not an expiring asset Winnipeg must move before losing him for nothing. The 33-year-old has five seasons remaining at an $8.5 million annual cap hit, giving the Jets the leverage to demand an enormous return or simply keep their franchise goaltender.
Meanwhile, seven trades involving nine players or prospects and 10 draft picks have been completed since Thursday morning. The activity is unfolding only hours before the Toronto Maple Leafs make the first selection in the 2026 NHL Draft, where Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg are considered the leading candidates to go first overall.
Latest NHL News and Confirmed Trades Before the 2026 NHL Draft
The most consequential of Thursday’s moves was Columbus acquiring Valeri Nichushkin from Colorado for three draft picks. Nichushkin produced 49 points in 72 regular-season games last season, a rate of 0.68 points per game, and has four years remaining on his contract.
My read is that Columbus paid a reasonable price for a proven top-six power forward without surrendering an established NHL player or first-round selection. The risk is attached to the term and the player’s ability to remain consistently available, but the Blue Jackets clearly believe they are ready to add established talent rather than continue accumulating futures.
Colorado’s motivation appears different. Moving Nichushkin provides additional flexibility and gives the Avalanche three draft assets that can be used to restock their system or included in another trade.
The Devils were also active, adding Declan Chisholm and Amadeus Lombardi in separate deals. Neither transaction will dominate the NHL News cycle, but they reflect the type of calculated depth moves strong organizations make before roster prices rise in free agency.
Connor Hellebuyck Trade Market Becomes the NHL Story to Watch
Cheveldayoff’s public acknowledgment that the Jets are listening represents an important update to the earlier Hellebuyck speculation. It does not confirm a trade request or suggest that a deal is imminent, but it confirms that Winnipeg has not refused to engage with interested teams.
From a hockey standpoint, the asking price should be massive. Hellebuyck’s contract provides five more seasons of cost certainty at a position where true difference-makers rarely become available. Even after a down season in which he posted an .895 save percentage, his larger body of work and ability to alter a playoff series give Winnipeg a strong negotiating position.
A serious offer would likely need to improve the Jets immediately while also bringing back premium future value. A package built primarily around distant draft picks would leave Winnipeg with an enormous hole in goal and no dependable path to replace him.
That is why draft night is important. Several interested teams control valuable first-round selections, and those assets become less flexible once players are selected. If the Jets are going to receive a proposal strong enough to make Cheveldayoff act, the hours surrounding the first round are a logical pressure point.
Jason Robertson Talks, Major Contracts and More NHL News
Another significant report involves Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson. Sportsnet reported that Dallas granted Seattle permission to speak with Robertson and that the Kraken presented an offer worth approximately $15 million per season over eight years. The offer was declined, and the reported trade framework was believed to include Seattle’s seventh-overall pick.
Until the teams or Robertson’s representatives confirm more details, this remains a report rather than a completed transaction. Still, it indicates that Seattle is prepared to pursue an elite offensive player and that Dallas is at least exploring its options with Robertson approaching restricted free agency.
The Ottawa Senators are also reportedly closing in on a four-year, $20-million extension with right-shot defenceman Jordan Spence. A $5-million cap hit for a 25-year-old who recorded 31 points last season could become strong value if Spence continues developing into a dependable top-four defender.
The New York Islanders removed another player from the upcoming unrestricted free-agent market by signing Tony DeAngelo to a two-year contract. Financial terms were not initially announced. DeAngelo recorded 35 points in 76 games last season.
Washington’s recent Alex Tuch acquisition is another example of an earlier report proving accurate. Buffalo’s inability to close the contractual gap led to a sign-and-trade, with Tuch signing an eight-year, $84-million contract before joining the Capitals. Buffalo received David Kampf and a 2027 third-round selection.
What to Watch During the 2026 NHL Draft
The first round begins tonight at 7 p.m. ET in Buffalo, with Toronto holding the No. 1 selection. McKenna remains the popular projection, but NHL.com lists both McKenna and Swedish winger Ivar Stenberg as the leading candidates.
The intrigue may increase immediately after Toronto makes its decision. San Jose owns picks No. 2 and No. 9, Buffalo moved up to No. 4, and several teams continue to discuss established players who could be moved for premium draft capital.
The Canadiens are believed to be looking for a young, proven NHL forward and have reportedly shown interest in Columbus winger Kirill Marchenko. Dylan Larkin, Mason McTavish, Matthew Knies and Robertson are also among the prominent players appearing in trade discussions, but none should be treated as traded until a team announcement is made.
The volume of transactions this week suggests general managers are not waiting for July 1. A weaker unrestricted free-agent class and the growing cost of long-term contracts are pushing teams toward the trade market. That makes tonight’s draft more than a prospect event—it could become the setting for another franchise-changing deal.
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