The Winnipeg Jets have a Connor Hellebuyck problem on their hands. Notably, the Jets’ franchise goaltender is still on their roster despite Winnipeg’s efforts to finalize a trade.Hellebuyck, 33, has five years left on an $8.5 million AAV contract extension he signed in 2023 with the intention to be a “Jet for life” — a favourite mantra of Jets management that Hellebuyck picked up and used throughout Winnipeg’s 2025 playoff run.Then the Jets followed their first-place finish and second-round playoff exit with a dismal 26th-place finish in 2025-26. Hellebuyck went from so moved by the fan support he got during Game 7 against St. Louis – “It’s a big reason why I’m going to be a Jet for life” – to being frustrated by the team’s inability to build a contender.“What we did this year was unacceptable,” Hellebuyck said in April. “No one wants to be part of that.”Winnipeg’s trade efforts have been unsuccessful thus far. Offers from Carolina (Alexander Nikishin and a first-round pick) and Florida (nothing that included Anton Lundell) were underwhelming. But there’s a persistent thought that the Jets’ many trade conversations with the Buffalo Sabres may yet lead to a trade.Patrick Kane homecoming in Chicago or Buffalo?Mark Lazerus and Shayna GoldmanIt’s believed the Jets and Sabres came close to finalizing a trade prior to the draft, but Winnipeg was unwilling to part with the No. 8 pick it used on Viggo Björck. The Jets still signed Stuart Skinner, who shares Hellebuyck’s agent, in a presumed effort to find a starter upon Hellebuyck’s departure.Meanwhile, after a quiet July 1, Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen has expressed confidence in his roster. Buffalo lost Alex Tuch to free agency and traded Bowen Byram along with Jordan Greenway to the Chicago Blackhawks for a package that included the No. 4 pick, a second-round pick and defenseman Louis Crevier. He flipped that second-rounder for Ducks defenseman Olen Zellweger. Crevier and Zellweger are the only notable additions to the Sabres’ roster.Kekäläinen thinks internal development from Buffalo’s core of young players will help the team build on its first playoff appearance in 15 years. But the Sabres’ roster is crowded with 15 NHL forwards, seven defensemen and three goalies. Buffalo still has $4.1 million in cap space, and Kekäläinen has also acknowledged that there will eventually come a time for a big swing to push this roster forward. Trading for Hellebuyck would be just that type of move.Could the Sabres and Jets still be a fit? Do trade chips like Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen and Josh Norris still make sense despite gaining trade protection on July 1? What else might Buffalo and Winnipeg do to get a trade across the finish line?What would Hellebuyck’s impact be in Buffalo?Goaltending wasn’t exactly a weakness for the Sabres last season. In fact, during the regular season, it was a strength. Luukkonen and Alex Lyon were a formidable tandem. Both started 34 games. Lyon had a 2.77 goals-against average and .907 save percentage. Luukkonen had a 2.52 goals-against average and .910 save percentage. Buffalo also sprinkled in 14 starts for rookie Colten Ellis, who had a .903 save percentage and 2.90 goals-against average. Kekäläinen had defended Buffalo’s goalies numerous times since the end of the season and seems comfortable going into the season with the same three goalies.