Connor Hellebuyck’s future in Winnipeg still feels like the kind of situation that can tilt fast, but for now the market around him hasn’t moved in a dramatic way. The Jets and the goaltender look increasingly at odds, yet no deal has materialized, and the list of teams believed to be in the lead may not stay that way for long.
That’s where a surprise entrant could come into play. Speaking on DFO Insider, David Pagnotta laid out the teams he viewed as the favorites before floating the possibility of a team that hadn’t been getting much attention.
“David Pagnotta said it was Buffalo, Utah, and Carolina for him. Those were the favorites. When asked about San Jose, he thought the Sharks were going to take a more patient approach.
There’s always that left-field team that kinda enters the mix. I’m really wondering about LA because I know there’s some question marks internally about [Darcy] Kuemper’s ability to run the full season. He added, “I think Laferriere would probably be part of that mix.”
He also didn’t rule out Carolina remaining involved in a broader framework, saying he wasn’t sure whether the Hurricanes would somehow become part of the mix and a three-team trade be a possible option. In that scenario, Alexander Nikishin is a piece that could be worked into the deal somehow.
Still, there are real reasons to doubt the Kings as a landing spot. They’re not viewed as contenders, and Hellebuyck’s priority is winning.
Los Angeles has been scraping into the playoffs and then getting bounced in the first round, with a roster that’s been described as older and slower. Even with some useful pieces in place, the belief is they would still need three or four good assets before they can become more than a bubble team.
That raises the obvious question of whether Hellebuyck would actually waive his no-move clause for them.
Winnipeg, meanwhile, doesn’t sound eager to force anything. The Jets are not under pressure to rush into a move, and as long as Stuart Skinner and Clay Stevenson keep performing well, they may be willing to let the situation play out and see where Hellebuyck’s market really settles.
In Other News...
Kings Now Sit At Center Of A Worrying Brad Marchand Story
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The Florida Panthers still have not offered an official diagnosis or return timeline, leaving the situation open-ended for now. Further testing is expected, and until that brings more clarity, the Kings find themselves attached to a story that could have a much bigger impact beyond one night in Los Angeles. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Already Have An Early Problem Fans Feared
Darcy Kuempers return to Crypto.com Arena gave the Kings a steady night in net, but it still wasnt enough to pull them out of their early-season skid. Alex Laferriere opened the scoring for Los Angeles, and for a while it looked like the kind of start that could settle everyone in after a shaky opening to the year.
Instead, Florida answered, then got the go-ahead goal from Matthew Tkachuk, and the Kings own issues around the puck only added to the frustration. Los Angeles came up empty on five power-play chances, generated just 20 shots, and left the building still searching for its first win after three games, which is not the sort of early rhythm this group wanted to be chasing. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Improvement Is Being Wasted By One Frustrating Problem
The Kings early season results have not matched the signs of progress showing up in their own end. Los Angeles fell 2-1 to the Florida Panthers, and while the record still shows a team searching for its first win after three games, the defensive side has quietly tightened a little with fewer goals allowed in each outing.
The problem is that the improvement keeps getting interrupted by untimely penalties, and the latest game was no exception. Los Angeles spent too much time shorthanded, which broke up its offensive rhythm and kept the power play from building anything meaningful, turning a game that could have settled into a cleaner flow into another frustrating night of chasing the details. [Read more 🡒]