If Utah is going to chase Connor Hellebuyck, the Mammoth have to be careful about where they draw the line.
The 33-year-old still carries superstar value, even after a season that wasn’t his best. He also showed exactly why teams would still pay up for him, turning in a brilliant performance with the help of a strong defenseman to help the US win gold at the Winter Olympics. That, along with the fact that he won the Hart Trophy just two seasons ago, gives Winnipeg every reason to wait for a strong offer.
But Utah shouldn’t let that push it into overpaying. A blockbuster for Hellebuyck doesn’t have to mean surrendering mega prospects Tij Iginla or Caleb Desnoyers, and it probably shouldn’t. The more realistic conversation centers on Utah’s goalie depth, with starter Karel Vejmelka and prospects Sebastian Cossa and Michael Hrabal all names that could matter in a deal.
If Utah wants Hellebuyck, moving one of those goalies would make sense. Which one goes would likely shape what else the Mammoth would need to send to Winnipeg. Utah may be willing to explore that kind of package, but it shouldn’t just throw in a first-round pick or a good prospect on top of another goalie and call it done.
The appeal is obvious. Utah could roll with Vejmelka and Cossa and feel good about the upside there.
But that comes with risk, because there’s no guarantee both pan out. And none of them, at least right now, can do what Hellebuyck can do when he decides to take over a game.
That’s why the rumor keeps hanging around. Hellebuyck reportedly demanded a trade and will likely need to be moved by the start of the season, and Utah is one of the few places where the fit actually makes sense. The challenge is finding a return that works for both sides without Utah giving away too much.
In Other News...
Utah Still Faces One Huge Hurdle In The West
For a Utah team trying to climb into the Western Conferences top tier, the conversation still starts with the same obstacle: the conferences established powers are not going anywhere. ESPN framed the challenge around whether Utah can truly disrupt the current order after years in which the West has been driven by heavyweights such as Edmonton, Vegas and Colorado. There is reason for optimism, though, because Utah showed enough last season to suggest it belongs in the mix, and its offseason was built with the idea of keeping important pieces in place while adding more experience around the roster.
The next step is less about reputation and more about execution, which is where the real uncertainty begins. Utahs path forward depends on health, the kind of breakout seasons contenders usually need, and meaningful help from its prospects as they grow into bigger roles. Those are all encouraging ingredients, but in a conference this deep, simply being improved is not the same as being dangerous enough to break through. [Read more 🡒]