The Connor Hellebuyck speculation refuses to quiet down, and the latest twist could speed things up for the Buffalo Sabres and the Winnipeg Jets.
On Saturday, Elliotte Friedman reported that Hellebuyck had actually been suspended to start the season, with the suspension set to expire on October 23. That date now looms like a hard stop for Winnipeg and for any team trying to pry the goalie loose. Once that window closes, Hellebuyck could be back with the Jets - though that does not sound like a clean or easy reunion.
Jets captain Adam Lowry put it bluntly when asked about the possibility of Hellebuyck returning to the team by Friday: “If he does show up, conversations are going to have to happen.”
The Sabres’ interest appears to be back on the table, too. Chad DeDominicis of Expected Buffalo reported shortly after Friedman’s update that Buffalo had re-engaged in trade talks with Winnipeg. That does not mean a deal is close, but it does mean the sides are talking again.
From Buffalo’s side, the fit is obvious. Goaltending has been a real problem. The Sabres are giving up the sixth-most goals per game at 3.67, and starter Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has the seventh-worst Goals Saved Above Expected at -4.3, per MoneyPuck.
This isn’t the first time general manager Jarmo Kekalainen has tried to work something out for Hellebuyck. The Sabres and Jets had serious conversations around the NHL Draft, but they could not bridge the gap. Winnipeg wanted the fourth overall pick, while Buffalo was not willing to give it up without getting the eighth pick back in the deal.
That roadblock is gone now, and so is the old framework. The draft picks are no longer in play, and Luukkonen’s five-team no-trade list, which kicked in on July 1, adds another wrinkle. In other words, if these talks are going anywhere, both sides may have to build something new from the ground up.
Hellebuyck’s own contract situation adds one more hurdle. He has a no-movement clause, so he would have to approve any destination.
Buffalo had reportedly been one of the teams he would waive it for, but that’s not the only option on the board. Other goalie-needy teams like the Utah Mammoth, LA Kings, or even the Carolina Hurricanes could still make themselves appealing enough to enter the mix.
What has felt like a never-ending saga may finally be nearing a decision point. The real question now is whether the Sabres can actually close it, or whether another team steps in before this week runs out.
In Other News...
Sabres Escape Road Trip With A Point But One Issue Still Hurts
The Sabres left Montreal with a point after their third straight road game, and there was enough in the performance to suggest the trip was not a total loss. Buffalo managed to rally in the third period to force overtime, and the lineup tinkering along the way gave the coaching staff a few things to sort through, including an early look at Ryan McLeod on the top line with Tage Thompson shifted to the wing. Jack Quinn continued his strong start with a goal and a notable defensive play, while the teams special teams again made life harder than it needed to be.
Still, the bigger concern from the road swing remains the same one that has followed this group for stretches of the season. Buffalo found a way to earn four of six possible points away from home without Rasmus Dahlin, but the power play and penalty kill did not give the club the kind of cushion it needed in a tight game. The late adjustments helped unlock the comeback, yet the Sabres are left knowing there is more work to do if they want those close road nights to turn into wins. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Scoring Surge Cant Hide Buffalos Biggest Early Problem
Buffalos recent offensive uptick has given the Sabres some much-needed life, but it has not been enough to cover up the bigger issue sitting behind it. Even as the goals have started to come more regularly, the overall shape of the team still looks fragile, with the defense struggling to hold up its end and too many chances turning into problems the other way.
The absence of captain Rasmus Dahlin has only sharpened the concern, because Buffalo has looked even less stable without its top defenseman on the ice. Add in the uneven play from Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Colten Ellis in net, and the Sabres are left with a familiar early-season dilemma: the scoring can keep them in games, but unless the defensive side improves, it will be hard to make the surge matter in the standings. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Suddenly Have A Goalie Market Twist Worth Watching
A few goaltending ripples around the league suddenly matter to the Sabres, even if the biggest names involved are wearing other sweaters. Connor Hellebuyck is set to become eligible to rejoin Winnipeg after his suspension ends on Oct. 23, and the situation around his return is drawing plenty of attention because the reception has not been universally smooth. For Buffalo, it is the kind of development that can shift the market quickly, especially when clubs are trying to sort out their crease early in the season.
There is also movement elsewhere that could change the way the Sabres shop for help. Dylan Larkin has reportedly asked the Red Wings for a trade, with a deal said to be close, while the Maple Leafs are looking hard for a major defense upgrade and appear willing to pay premium assets to get one. When teams at different points on the contention ladder start making aggressive moves, it tends to create dominoes, and Buffalo has to keep an eye on whether the goalie market becomes more crowded or more expensive in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]