Nothing seems to be bubbling right now around Connor Hellebuyck, at least not according to what Elliotte Friedman heard when he checked in.
On NHL Network, Friedman said the Winnipeg Jets goalie remains a name to watch, but the market around him is still mostly dormant. EJ Hradek pushed the conversation by saying he believes Hellebuyck will be traded, and even floated Buffalo as the destination. Friedman didn’t shut that down, but he made clear that there wasn’t much movement behind the scenes.
“I hear it’s quiet. You know, EJ.
I think that, I’m with you. I still think he gets moved at some point in time, but I think right now, like I asked around today, and I’ll be honest, I didn’t get a lot.
I was just told quiet, quiet. And it could be one of those things that picks up closer to training camp. You know, sometimes I’m like, okay, when I hear quiet, quiet, I’m, my paranoia kicks in, and I think that something’s going on.
But and I recognize anything can change with one phone call, but I don’t want to mislead anyone. People were just telling me there’s not much going on there right now.”
Elsewhere, Jimmy Snuggerud is sitting in a different kind of spotlight in St. Louis. The Blues winger is entering the final year of his entry-level contract and can sign an extension now, which puts the team in an interesting spot after his rookie season.
Snuggerud put up 21 goals and 30 assists in 70 games, production that puts him in line for a serious raise. Jeremy Rutherford and Shayna Goldman of The Athletic laid out a range of possible deals, including longer-term numbers that would buy out more of his prime and shorter bridge options that would keep things flexible for both sides.
Among the long-term comparables, Tyson Foerster signed for eight years at $7.1 million, while Zach Benson got seven years at $7.5 million. AFP Analytics projects Snuggerud at seven years and $8.81 million, while Dom Luszczysyn’s average market value model has him at $10.8 million over eight years. Older comparables mentioned included William Nylander, Mika Zibanejad, Nick Schmaltz and Travis Konecny.
On the shorter end, AFP Analytics projects a three-year deal at $5.86 million. A five-year contract would take Snuggerud to unrestricted free agency at 28.
There’s also the on-ice piece to consider. Snuggerud is projected to skate with Robert Thomas and Dylan Holloway on the top line next, which could push his numbers even higher if that trio clicks. The only real question now is whether the Blues and Snuggerud want to get ahead of the curve or let the season move the price even further.
In Other News...
Blues May Be Sitting On A Skilled Winger Worth Watching
Dmitri Buchelnikov is the kind of winger the Blues can afford to keep an eye on without needing to rush anything. The Russian right wing was originally drafted by Detroit in 2022 before his rights were traded to St. Louis, and since then he has kept building his rsum in the KHL. His production has trended upward, highlighted by a breakout run with Vityaz and then an injury-shortened season with CSKA Moskova, enough to keep his name circulating as a legitimate long-term piece.
What makes Buchelnikov interesting from St. Louis perspective is the blend of skill and uncertainty around his eventual NHL fit. He has the sort of offensive tools that could matter in a top-six role, but there are still questions about how that translates against NHL competition and what the path looks like to get there. For now, the Blues are simply sitting on a player whose development points toward a possible impact window around the 2027-28 season, which makes him a worthwhile name to remember. [Read more 🡒]
Cam Fowler Could Decide How Safe The Blues Blue Line Really Is
The Blues spent the offseason trying to make their blue line sturdier, bringing in Brandon Carlo from the Toronto Maple Leafs and leaning into Philip Broberg as the player expected to anchor the group. Even with that help, the picture still feels like it turns on Cam Fowler, whose presence gives St. Louis a veteran option with the puck but whose recent drop-off has made it harder to know just how reliable this defense can be over a full season.
Fowlers value has always been tied to whether he can drive play and hold up against top competition, and the Blues do not have much margin for error if he does not come close to that level. If he can settle back into the form that made him such an important part of the lineup, St. Louis defense looks a lot safer. If not, the additions around him may end up having to cover for a lot more than the Blues hoped. [Read more 🡒]
Colton Paraykos Quiet Blues Legacy Is Getting Hard To Ignore
Colton Paraykos place in Blues history has been building for years, one steady shift at a time. Since breaking into the NHL in 2015-16, he has become the kind of defenseman every team leans on, reliable in his own end and trusted in big moments, including St. Louis run to the 2019 Stanley Cup championship. Now he is closing in on 800 career games with the Blues, a mark that speaks less to flash than to the kind of durability and consistency that can quietly define a franchise career.
What makes the number even more notable is where it puts him in the record book. Parayko is on the verge of moving past Barrett Jackman for second place on the organizations all-time games-played list, an impressive bit of company for a player who has long been more essential than celebrated. Still under contract and expected to keep logging major minutes, he remains very much part of the present in St. Louis, even as his legacy with the club becomes harder to overlook. [Read more 🡒]