The Sabres may not be alone if they decide to push hard for Connor Hellebuyck.
According to chatter from NHL insiders last week, the Winnipeg Jets are hoping to land an offer they like before the regular season begins. If that doesn’t happen, they’re prepared to open the year with the Vezina and Hart Trophy winner still on the roster.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and TSN’s Pierre LeBrun both reported that the Florida Panthers chased the 33-year-old earlier in the offseason, but used the assets involved for a proposed deal for winger Brady Tkachuk and goalie Jacob Markstrom instead. They also said the Sabres, Utah Mammoth, and Carolina Hurricanes remain in the mix for Hellebuyck, who has five years left on his contract at $8.5 million per season.
Winnipeg’s ask, according to both reporters, is centered on a hockey trade rather than a simple package of future picks and prospects. That matters because the other clubs linked to Hellebuyck each have different kinds of pieces to offer.
Utah may have the strongest pitch on paper. The Mammoth have Karel Vejmelka under contract, and he carries a 10-team no-trade clause.
They also have 23-year-old Sebastian Cossa, acquired from Detroit in June, along with young talent such as 2024 first-round pick Tij Iginla or 2025 top selection Caleb Desnoyers. That kind of return could catch Kevin Cheveldayoff’s attention.
Carolina’s situation looks different after losing Frederik Andersen in free agency to Edmonton. That leaves Brandon Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov as the Hurricanes’ tandem. The Jets are said to be seeking help down the middle, but the most appealing piece coming back from Carolina could be Russian defenseman Alexander Nikishin, an unsigned RFA, plus a prospect such as Ivan Ryabkin, who played in the AHL and QMJHL as an 18-year-old.
If Buffalo wants to outbid both clubs, the cost could get steep fast. The Sabres may need to pull from their NHL roster, with winger Jack Quinn or center Ryan McLeod potentially in play. They might also have to include one of their young forwards - Konsta Helenius, Noah Ostlund, or Jiri Kulich - and possibly a defensive prospect like Daxon Rudolph or Radim Mrtka.
That leaves the Sabres with a real decision to make. Jarmo Kekalainen would have to decide whether Hellebuyck is worth that kind of price, or whether Buffalo is better off moving into next season with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon, and Colten Ellis in goal.
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