Edmonton’s hopes of landing Connor Hellebuyck took a hard hit on Monday, and the message from one of the NHL’s most plugged-in insiders was about as blunt as it gets.
Pierre LeBrun shut the door on the Oilers being a realistic destination for the Winnipeg Jets goaltender.
“People have wondered about Edmonton for Connor Hellebuyck. He’s not going to play in Edmonton, so please, let’s stop with that. That’s not happening,” LeBrun said on TSN’s OverDrive on Monday.
That kind of statement leaves little room for speculation. Hellebuyck remains suspended by the Jets as the club continues searching for a trade, and if he is moved this season, the Oilers are not expected to be in the mix.
His preference is believed to be landing with a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, which has naturally sparked interest around the league. Edmonton has come up often, especially after the team made changes in net this offseason without fully answering its long-running questions in goal.
Hellebuyck would clearly be a major upgrade for the Oilers, but LeBrun said Carolina remains involved, and San Jose has also been mentioned as a possible landing spot.
Even if Edmonton had real interest, the contract would make the deal tough to pull off. The 33-year-old carries an $8.5 million annual cap hit through the 2030-31 season, a figure that would be hard for Stan Bowman to fit into the Oilers’ current salary structure.
That matters because Edmonton is built to win now, and a goalie of Hellebuyck’s caliber would give the team a serious boost. But the reality check here is straightforward: the fit doesn’t look right, and the price tag makes it even harder.
So while Hellebuyck’s name will keep floating around the market, Edmonton appears to be out of the picture.
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