Murat Ates of The Athletic took a broad look at what the Winnipeg Jets might do if they move Connor Hellebuyck, and the goalie market around him is not exactly overflowing with easy answers.
If Winnipeg is trying to find someone to pair with Stuart Skinner, the options start with free agency. Ates listed Connor Ingram, Cam Talbot, James Reimer, Matt Murray, and Petr Mrazek as the available names. He also pointed to the possibility of simply getting a backup goalie back as part of any Hellebuyck deal.
The trade market gets thinner fast, but Ates still ran through a few clubs that could fit. Buffalo’s NHL goaltending group includes Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon, and Colten Ellis, with Samuel Meloche and Topias Leinonen as the top goalie prospects.
New Jersey has Jake Allen, Nico Daws, and David Rittich in the NHL, plus Mikhail Yegorov in the pipeline. Vegas lists Adin Hill and Carter Hart, with Carl Lindbom as its top goalie prospect.
Carolina has Brandon Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov, plus Ryder Fetterolf. San Jose’s group is Alex Nedeljkovic, Yaroslav Askarov, and Eric Comrie, with Joshua Ravensbergen as the top prospect.
Utah rounds it out with Karel Vejmelka and Sebastian Cossa, along with Michael Hrabal.
Anthony Di Marco of Daily Faceoff doesn’t see a long line of teams ready to jump in on Hellebuyck. The price is going to be tricky, and Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff likely won’t have an easy time landing a massive return.
Still, Di Marco laid out three possible trade packages. Buffalo’s offer would send Radim Mrtka or Jack Quinn, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, and a top-10 protected first-round pick.
Carolina’s would include Alexander Nikishin, Brandon Bussi or Pyotr Kochetkov, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, and two first-round picks. New Jersey’s proposal would bring back Dawson Mercer, Nico Daws, and a top-10 protected first-round pick.
The bigger question, Di Marco wrote, is whether the Jets would actually move Hellebuyck before training camp starts.
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Timo Meier Suddenly Has No Excuse In New Devils Experiment
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Luke Evangelista is the latest attempt to solve that puzzle. New Jersey acquired the skilled winger with the hope that his passing touch and offensive instincts can help spark Meier the way he once helped fuel a scoring surge for Steven Stamkos, giving the Devils a new look around a player who suddenly has fewer excuses to settle for the same results. [Read more 🡒]