On Thursday, agent Ray Petkau released a statement on behalf of his client, Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, officially requesting a trade from the only NHL organization he's ever known.

The statement

“Winnipeg has been my home for my entire NHL career, and I will always be grateful for my time there,” the statement released by Petkau Thursday afternoon read. “I have never forgotten June 23, 2012. That’s the day Winnipeg took a chance on a goalie playing in Odessa, TX. I gave everything I had from that moment to prove that the Jets made the right decision.

“Several months ago, I privately requested a trade. I have tried to handle the situation quietly and respectfully while giving the organization time to explore its options.

“With training camp approaching, I felt it was important to publicly confirm my request. My position has not changed, and I believe moving on is the best path forward for me and my family.

“I appreciate everything Winnipeg Jets fans have meant to me throughout my career and hope a resolution can be reached soon.”

Fall out

Because a trade request has been made, it does not guarantee that Hellebuyck will be moved. "He's contractually obligated to play for the Jets," popular Jets supporter and hockey personality Jesse Pollock posted on Twitter/X after the news broke. "I would imagine Chevy (Jets General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff) has been shopping him all summer and ovbiously hasn't been getting the value he knows Helle's worth in potential trades. The Jets just lost any leverage they had left and now might have to move him for peanuts?"

Another Petkau client, Stuart Skinner, signed as a free agent with the Jets on July 1st.

Training camp

With the public trade request official, the question becomes if a deal doesn't happen in the next couple of weeks, if Hellebuyck would come to training camp in Winnipeg or if he'll risk sitting out until a trade is completed.

Winnipeg's first preseason game is September 19th, and their first regular season game is at home vs Boston on October 2nd.