NHL Rumor Roundup: Latest On Zach Werenski And Connor Hellebuyck
The NHL rumor mill was buzzing for over a week about Zach Werenski's future with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Reports claiming the 28-year-old superstar defenseman wasn't interested in extending his contract next summer sparked rumors claiming the Jackets were gauging his value in the trade market.
By Tuesday night, it appeared Werenski was on his way out of Columbus. It was reported that the Blue Jackets had a deal in place that would've shipped the Norris Trophy winner to the Dallas Stars, but it fell through because he wouldn't waive his no-movement clause.
Winnipeg Jets Cannot Accept A Hellebuyck Trade That Starts A Retool
Trade rumors linked Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck to the Buffalo Sabres. Unless the trade makes the Winnipeg Jets a Stanley Cup front-runner next season and beyond, forget it.
Turning to the Winnipeg Jets, the future of Connor Hellebuyck remains cloudy following reports last week that a trade sending the 33-year-old goaltender to the Buffalo Sabres fell through hours before the first round of the 2026 NHL draft.
The addition of free-agent goalie Stuart Skinner on a two-year contract didn't quell the speculation.
Massimo De Luca-Taronno of the Winnipeg Sunbelieves the Sabres remain in the running for Hellebuyck, but they're not the only club. The Stanley Cup-champion Carolina Hurricanes were rumored to be interested. The New Jersey Devils also need a starting goalie after trading Jacob Markstrom to the Florida Panthers on Tuesday.
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman dismissed the "Hellebuyck to New Jersey" hype, claiming the three-time Vezina Trophy winner's contract isn't one that "fits the profile" of Devils GM Sunny Mehta. He also said sources claimed the deal with the Sabres wasn't as close as originally believed because some of the players involved had no-trade protection.
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This story was originally published July 2, 2026 at 10:26 AM.