Connor Hellebuyck’s next move is getting harder to read, and San Jose has now entered the conversation.
On a recent episode of 32 Thoughts the Podcast, Elliotte Friedman said the San Jose Sharks and Winnipeg Jets did have brief trade discussions, though nothing ever got far. He also reported that Hellebuyck would be open to joining the Sharks, even if San Jose may not be convinced it fits the window the goalie has in mind.
“So I’ve asked what happened between San Jose and Winnipeg. And the best answer I got is they talked, but it never really went a long way,” Friedman said.
He added, “I think Hellebuyck looks at this as the big three-year window. Three years where that’s where he wants to go to a team that he thinks can win in the next three years.”
Then came the key detail: “And I’ve heard that he would consider San Jose. But what I’ve also heard is that they’re are not sure they’re in that window.”
That’s the tension here. Hellebuyck appears to be looking for a team that can win now, or at least within the next three seasons. The Sharks believe they’re moving in the right direction and could be in the playoff mix, but they may not view themselves as true Stanley Cup contenders yet.
If that’s the bar Hellebuyck is using, then San Jose may have to decide whether it wants to speed up the plan. General manager Mike Grier may not want to drift from the organization’s path, but the Sharks’ summer moves suggest they’re at least willing to push.
They added Darnell Nurse and Jacob Trouba on the blue line, and signed Mason Marchment up front. Bringing in Hellebuyck would be a much louder statement about where they think they stand.
And that’s where this gets interesting for the rest of the league.
If Hellebuyck is locked in on winning over the next three years, there are only so many teams that check that box and also need help in goal. The Edmonton Oilers stand out. Their goaltending situation is unsettled with Tristan Jarry, Devon Levi, and an injured Frederik Andersen in the mix, and the team still carries a Cup-or-bust approach.
Frank Seravalli raised that possibility in late September, saying, “If the Oilers continue to reel in goal - Tuesday’s opener made Frederik Andersen’s December debut feel a long way off - could they consider making a play for Hellebuyck? Would Hellebuyck soften his stance to make it a possibility?”
The questions for Edmonton are obvious: is Levi the answer, and how much patience do they have for Jarry?
The Carolina Hurricanes also fit the profile. They’re the defending Stanley Cup champions and look ready to push again, with Brandon Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov handling the crease right now. Hellebuyck would give them another level of certainty, though the Hurricanes have already shown they can win without a star goalie and may believe they can do it again.
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