The Connor Hellebuyck chatter keeps circling back to Buffalo, but the math may be the part that shuts the door.
Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Free Press noted in his mailbag that the Sabres’ 2027 first-rounder probably won’t land in the top 10, which makes it a very different kind of chip than Buffalo’s 2026 first-round pick, currently No. 4.
Winnipeg wanted the No. 4 selection and to keep the No. 8 pick. Buffalo, meanwhile, was pushing for a pick swap.
That’s just one piece of the puzzle. Zach Benson is unlikely to move after signing a seven-year extension, and Konsta Helenius is also viewed as a long shot to be traded.
Radim Mrtka would be a useful add, but the Jets would need an impact forward or two coming back as well. Jack Quinn, Noah Ostlund, Jiri Kulich and Ryan McLeod are among the names that could come into play.
Josh Norris and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen both have modified no-trade clauses.
As for where else Hellebuyck could end up, the list is still fluid. The New Jersey Devils look like an unlikely fit.
The San Jose Sharks and Carolina Hurricanes could be teams that interest him, while the Utah Mammoth were mentioned as a sleeper because of their mix of roster players and prospects. One question hanging over all of it: could Winnipeg and another team pull off a major inter-division deal?
Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press also pointed out that Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff doesn’t have to move Hellebuyck unless the return is right. He can wait, though that may not be the cleanest outcome if Hellebuyck is still on the roster next year.
The hope is that more teams jump in and drive the price higher. At some point this offseason, Winnipeg may decide the offers aren’t going to improve and make the move then.
In Philadelphia, the Flyers are still looking for ways to get better after the failed Leo Carlsson offer sheet. Adam Kimelman of NHL.com reported that GM Daniel Briere plans to keep exploring the trade market.
“The players did their part last year, and we’re trying to do ours. We’re going to keep trying to improve the team to give them the best chance to be a contender for years to come.”
The Flyers have room to maneuver, sitting on just under $16 million in cap space. Briere said they’re considering a range of options.
“Yes, we’re looking to do different things. I’m not saying it’s going to work, but yeah, there’s different things we’re looking at that might eat up our salary cap.”
And while the source of the Leo Carlsson offer sheet is the backdrop here, Anaheim’s situation still points in a clear direction: the Ducks are trying to add a center and fix their power play. Free agency doesn’t offer much help at this stage, so if they make a move, trade is the more likely path.
In Other News...
Jets Opening Night Picture Still Hinges On Two Massive Questions
The Jets projected opening-night look for 2026-27 already has some familiar structure to it, with the top line expected to stay intact and the blue line mostly settled after offseason work. There is at least one new face in the mix on defense, and the goaltending picture currently has Connor Hellebuyck in his usual starting role with Stuart Skinner behind him after arriving on July 1. For a team trying to map out its next step, the roster does not feel empty so much as unfinished.
What keeps the whole exercise from feeling locked in is how much still depends on the final few decisions up front and in net. There is even a scenario in which an 18-year-old could be pushed into a far bigger role than planned, which would say plenty about how thin the margin is in the middle of the lineup. And while Hellebuyck remains the obvious anchor in goal for now, his status is one of the biggest reasons the picture still feels provisional rather than permanent. [Read more 🡒]
Connor Hellebuyck Trade Talk Just Took A Tense New Turn
The Connor Hellebuyck chatter between Buffalo and Winnipeg has not gone away, and the latest twist only underscores how difficult a deal would be to pull off. The two sides were close to something before the June draft, but the talks broke down over what the Jets wanted in return, leaving the Sabres to keep looking for a top-end answer in goal while Winnipeg held firm on its valuation.
Now the tension is in what comes next. Reports say the Jets have pushed their price higher, while Buffalo has already shown a willingness to walk away from the kind of ask that would force a major piece out of its own roster. With the Sabres also missing out on Patrick Kane, there is added pressure on their front office to land a headline move, but whether that urgency changes the Hellebuyck dynamic is still the question hanging over the talks. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Fans Can't Ignore The Patrik Laine Reunion Debate
Patrik Laines name still carries real weight in Winnipeg, even years after the Jets moved him in 2021. He was once one of the most dangerous scorers in the league here, and even with the injuries and limited playing time that have slowed his career since, the idea of a reunion has enough history behind it to make Jets fans stop and think.
The appeal is obvious: a former franchise talent with a track record in the market, available at a time when Winnipeg still has room to maneuver after its July 1 activity. The question is whether the Jets would view Laine as a sensible final addition or decide the risks attached to bringing back a player whose recent seasons have been so uneven are simply too much to justify. [Read more 🡒]