Connor Hellebuyck’s trade request has changed the goaltending market, and if the Maple Leafs want a real shot at landing him, they can’t sit back and wait.
The news broke Thursday afternoon when Hellebuyck posted a statement on social media thanking the Winnipeg Jets, their fans, and everyone who supported him, while saying he has decided it’s time for a change. That puts one of the league’s top goaltenders on the block, and it immediately raises the pressure on Toronto to get aggressive.
There will be no shortage of teams calling. There were already serious talks at one point about Hellebuyck going to the Buffalo Sabres, though nothing came together. Now that he is officially available, that idea could be revisited, but Toronto also has a clear opening if it wants to chase a true long-term starter.
Hellebuyck, 32, is coming off a 23-23-11 season with a 2.86 GAA and .895 SV%, but his career numbers still tell the real story: a 348-205-55 record, a 2.58 GAA, and a .916 SV%, along with three Vezinas and a Hart Trophy. Goaltending at that level doesn’t show up often.
For Toronto, that kind of fit would force a change in direction. The current plan suddenly looks a lot less settled with Hellebuyck available, especially with the team already investing heavily into Sergei Bobrovsky and Anthony Stolarz. Hellebuyck would be an upgrade over Stolarz, is younger than Bobrovsky, and comes in at only slightly more expensive with an $8.5 million AAV and just one extra year on his deal.
If Toronto expects Bobrovsky to carry most of the load, it still needs a real contingency plan. Stolarz may be useful, but he is not the answer here, and Bobrovsky’s age has to matter in the equation. Hellebuyck gives the Leafs a goalie built to handle a heavy workload, and he has done that repeatedly, including multiple seasons with 60-plus starts and twice leading the league in goaltender minutes.
That’s the appeal: Toronto would be getting a starter who can take the bulk of the games without age being the concern. Even if he functions more like a 1A and starts 40-plus, that tandem with Bobrovsky could give the Maple Leafs a level of goaltending they have never had.
Of course, the price would be steep. If Winnipeg is moving its franchise goalie, it’s going to want a franchise-level return.
Stolarz could be part of that package as a cheaper veteran who might thrive with less pressure in Winnipeg, and then the prospect conversation starts with Easton Cowan. Ben Danford could also be involved, while Artur Akhtyamov is another name to watch.
Cowan would give the Jets an offensive piece to build around alongside Viggo Bjorck. Danford would add a young shutdown defender. Akhtyamov, the Calder Cup Playoff MVP, could be viewed as a future superstar in goal if Winnipeg wants to make sure it has another franchise option down the road.
Even if Toronto pieces together the right hockey trade, the cap work still matters. Hellebuyck’s $8.5 million hit would require room, which means another significant move could be needed depending on how much salary Winnipeg retains or how much Toronto sends back.
One name should stay out of it: Matthew Knies. If Toronto was reluctant to include him in a package for Zach Werenski, it makes little sense to use him as the centerpiece for a position the club has already spent money trying to solve. He is too important to the Maple Leafs’ future offense.
Hellebuyck would give Toronto the kind of goaltender who can carry a playoff run and maybe push them toward a Stanley Cup appearance. But if the Leafs want him, the move has to happen now. Other teams are already working just as hard, and in a market like this, hesitation can cost you everything.
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For Leafs fans, though, seeing Shanahan linked to a potential move up the NHL ladder is the sort of development that can stir old memories and fresh uncertainty at the same time. He remains one of the more recognizable executive figures tied to Torontos recent era, and the idea of him becoming a candidate for the leagues top job adds an unexpected wrinkle to a franchise that has already lived through plenty of organizational change. For now, it is only speculation, but it is the kind of speculation that tends to linger once it starts. [Read more 🡒]