Why Jets’ hot start should increase, not decrease, urgency to trade Hellebuyck ASAP

The great thing about early success in an NHL season for a franchise in a desperate situation: it buys time to think. At least, that’s one way to look at the Winnipeg Jets’ 4-1-1 start in 2026-27. But I actually see it the opposite way. Looking competitive so far this season, the Jets are drastically increasing the urgency to trade goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. The Jets hit quite a low in summer 2026. In a single year, they’d tumbled from the Presidents’ Trophy winners to out of the Stanley Cup playoffs altogether. Hellebuyck, their reigning Hart Trophy-winning netminder, couldn’t carry a…