The top goalie in the world is hoping to be traded before NHL training camps open in September.Connor Hellebuyck went public with his request to be traded from the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday. In a statement released by his agent, Ray Petkau, Hellebuyck confirmed that he asked for a trade from Winnipeg several months ago, and that he still believes moving on is the best path forward for him and his family. The Jets responded with a statement of their own from general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff, saying they will “continue to work through the situation in a thoughtful manner.”The three-time Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender is hoping to find a new team sooner rather than later, while the Jets won’t be keen on moving their best player without receiving fair compensation. While we don’t know exactly what Winnipeg is asking for in return, here’s a summary from their perspective, from The Athletic’s Jets beat writer, Murat Ates:“Winnipeg will seek to delay a rebuild if at all possible. Expect the Jets’ ideal return to focus on roster players – a top-six forward, a goaltender who can share the net with Skinner – and a first-round pick or similar asset. When Cheveldayoff named his team’s biggest needs, answering The Athletic’s question prior to the draft, he put his focus squarely on a second-line center. He then drafted Viggo Bjorck, who Winnipeg is inclined to give an NHL opportunity at 18 years old and who projects to be a strong two-way center. The selection doesn’t automatically pivot Winnipeg’s needs from center to right wing, where Gabriel Vilardi is the only surefire threat, but it gives the Jets options in terms of the forward they get back. Skinner has played at least 50 games for four straight seasons, so the Jets don’t need a surefire starter – just someone who can play a “1B” role and take 30 to 35 starts.”The Athletic’s Chris Johnston reported on Thursday that one key difference between Hellebuyck’s trade request compared to others around the NHL is that he’s willing to waive his no-movement clause for a variety of teams, which means the Jets have options.With that in mind, here are the teams that make the most sense as potential trade partners, and why some may be better fits than others.Buffalo SabresMuch of the conversation around potential landing spots for Hellebuyck has centered around Buffalo, and for good reason. The Sabres should be considered a frontrunner. They took a huge step forward in 2025-26, snapping a 14-year playoff drought. It was largely fueled by a top-five scoring attack, but they also received surprisingly steady goaltending from Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon, who combined to give them the third-highest team save percentage in the NHL.It’s fair to wonder if the duo can repeat that in 2026-27. Luukkonen’s four full seasons in the NHL have bounced between stellar and disappointing, and Lyon’s career has been equally uneven.With the talent the Sabres have at forward and on the blue line, Hellebuyck would instantly make them a top contender in the East. We’ve only seen Hellebuyck play behind a top-five scoring team twice in his career, and in both instances he led the NHL in wins. In 2017-18, he finished runner-up for the Vezina and led Winnipeg to the conference finals. In 2024-25, he helped the Jets win the Presidents’ Trophy and walked away with the Vezina and Hart trophies.Buffalo’s salary cap situation is another reason to believe it’s a top landing spot. The Sabres still have $6.9 million in space, which is already nearly enough to fit Hellebuyck’s $8.5 million cap hit. If the Jets took Luukkonen back in a trade, it would clear another $4.75 million, leaving plenty of room. The Sabres also have a plethora of top-six forwards they could send Winnipeg’s way, including Josh Norris and Ryan McLeod, giving this potential trade a real chance.Vegas Golden KnightsRarely does a star player hit the trade market without the Golden Knights being mentioned in some capacity. Vegas has made multiple blockbuster trades over the last nine seasons, with several being under similar circumstances: a player unhappy in their current location.General manager Kelly McCrimmon has made it clear that he’s happy with his current goalie tandem of Carter Hart and Adin Hill, but it doesn’t mean he won’t change his mind if the right opportunity presents itself. Neither Hart nor Hill was particularly impressive in the regular season, with the team ranking near the bottom of the league in save percentage and goals saved above expected. Hart was excellent in the playoffs, sans a poor ending in the Cup Final, and Hill has shown he is good enough to lead the team to a title, but Hellebuyck is obviously another tier of goalie entirely.What makes this option particularly intriguing is the stylistic fit. Hellebuyck is a positional goalie who reads the play incredibly well and thrives in structure. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights defend with arguably the best structure in the NHL. They employ a zone defense that does an exceptional job of keeping the puck out of the high-danger areas and allows predictable shots. It’s why they led the league with the fewest high-danger chances and expected goals against last season.