New details are coming into focus on how aggressively the Florida Panthers pursued Connor Hellebuyck, and the picture is a big one.
According to Elliotte Friedman via 32 Thoughts, Florida’s proposal for the Winnipeg Jets goalie would have sent Evan Rodrigues, the draft picks the Panthers later moved in the Brady Tkachuk deal - including the ninth and 25th overall selections in 2026 - plus another roster player, though not Anton Lundell, to Winnipeg.
That package is no longer on the table in its original form. Florida has already used that draft capital, and Rodrigues is now with the New Jersey Devils. The Panthers, in other words, chose Tkachuk over Hellebuyck.
Even so, the interest in Hellebuyck does not appear to be gone. Frank Seravalli said on the Jason Gregor Show, “I think the Panthers are gonna continue to monitor,” adding that general manager Bill Zito has a reputation for finding a way to make a deal happen no matter the circumstances.
The timing is notable for Florida, which may be looking for answers in goal after losing both Sergei Bobrovsky and Daniil Tarasov in free agency. The Panthers did bring in Jacob Markstrom, but the question remains whether he is the solution.
The report also puts a sharper spotlight on Winnipeg’s side of the story. If multiple first-round picks were truly in play for the 33-year-old at one point, it raises more questions about how the Jets have managed the situation.
Hellebuyck’s situation only got more complicated this week, when he was suspended for failing to report to training camp after requesting a trade.
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