Connor Hellebuyck and the Winnipeg Jets are still staring at the same problem, and Elliotte Friedman doesn’t sound any closer to seeing a clean fix.
On the latest episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, Friedman said the situation has become “impossible to resolve,” with circumstances beyond the Jets’ control leaving both sides in a tough spot. He said he had hoped there might be a way to work it out, but now believes that’s unlikely.
“You know, I just think that there were some things that happened last year that were out of the Jets’ control, post-Olympics, that have made this situation impossible to resolve. I think the Jets were hopeful that maybe it would change, but I don’t think that’s possible at all. And you know, it was something that was out of their hands, and you know, I understand Hellebuyck’s feelings on this.”
Friedman also said Hellebuyck’s trade list appears to be broader than some other players who have asked out. In his view, this is not about sunlight or taxes. It’s about one thing.
“It’s just about where does he think he can win? And it’s a wider list.”
That said, the biggest question may be what has changed since the draft. Friedman pointed to the shifting market, noting that Buffalo no longer has the fourth pick and that pieces once available in Florida’s offer have since moved elsewhere.
“Like the draft package for Brady. Potentially someone like Evan Rodriguez, who’s now with the Devils. Like, they don’t have that stuff anymore.”
He also mentioned that some teams may have altered their own lists, including “potentially” Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen in Buffalo, and said some options may have been blocked along the way.
“So I don’t know where this is going to go, but I do think Winnipeg is going to try to do it. They have to do well.
Like, this is a very, very important trade for the Jets, and they have to do well. But I think there’s a recognition now that this has to happen and is going to happen.”
When Kyle Bukauskas asked whether Kevin Cheveldayoff would want immediate help or a roster player in return, Friedman was direct.
“I don’t think they want futures. I think they want to compete.”
Friedman added that training camp begins next week, and said Buffalo, Utah, and Carolina are still in the mix. He said he has had “very mixed messaging” on New Jersey, and that while he had heard at one point the Devils were not interested, others believe they are. He also said Winnipeg has at times prioritized getting a goalie back in the deal.
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For Winnipeg, the fit is easy to imagine even if the path is not. The Jets have the kind of competitive roster that can appeal to a veteran trying to land in a meaningful situation, and adding another established finisher would deepen a lineup that already has playoff ambitions. The wrinkle, of course, is that Kreider has been tied to a return closer to home, which leaves Winnipeg trying to sell not just opportunity, but the chance to chase something bigger right away. [Read more 🡒]