Josh Norris’ health appears to have been the stumbling block in a potential Connor Hellebuyck trade to Buffalo, while Simon Edvinsson’s contract talks in Detroit are finally moving forward. And in Pittsburgh, the Penguins are keeping a patient posture with Sidney Crosby and Erik Karlsson, even though both are extension-eligible.
The Hellebuyck-to-Sabres chatter has been around since the draft, when the reported framework included the fourth-overall pick, additional draft capital, a high-end prospect and a roster player. One of the key sticking points, according to the reporting, was Winnipeg’s refusal to move the eighth-overall pick back to Buffalo, with the Jets instead targeting Viggo Bjorck at that slot.
But Darren Dreger added another layer to the story. He said, “There was a centre from the Sabres that could’ve been included in the deal that the Jets didn’t necessarily love. They had concerns with that player from a health standpoint.”
That centre may have been Jiri Kulich, who has dealt with blood clots, though the source material notes it would make more sense for Buffalo to have been trying to move Norris. Norris has battled shoulder injuries over the last few seasons and has missed substantial time in each of the last five years.
Buffalo is still in the mix for Hellebuyck, but the original offseason offer is no longer on the table. If the Sabres come back into the conversation, it will have to be with a very different package.
In Detroit, Shawn Horcoff has inherited plenty of work after the Red Wings waited more than two months to name an interim general manager. Edvinsson is one of the biggest items on the list. The defenseman remains a restricted free agent, though he has been at training camp.
The contract picture has shifted as well. Zeev Buium’s eight-year deal, which pays more than $9 million annually, now stands as a major benchmark if Edvinsson’s next contract is long term. Fraser Minten’s deal could also come into play as a lower-end comparison, even though he is not a defenseman.
Pierre LeBrun reported that Horcoff has already been in contact with Edvinsson’s agent, and he said, “they’ve gotten going for real here.”
In Pittsburgh, the extension questions around Crosby and Karlsson are being handled with restraint. Josh Yohe reported that no negotiations have started yet on Karlsson’s side, though both the player and team appear open to talking later.
Penguins assistant general manager Jason Spezza said, “There’s been great conversation and transparency around his situation…We think a lot of Erik. I think he’s enjoyed his time here.
We’ve enjoyed having him. So, those types of situations will play themselves out as the year goes.”
Crosby’s situation is different only in timing, not in tone. His current deal was signed as an extension in Sept. 2024, and his last negotiation stretched into mid-September as well. There’s no indication he’s headed anywhere other than Pittsburgh, and the delay is tied to how he feels about his game, not where he wants to play.
Spezza also addressed Crosby directly, saying, “You want to kind of see how you feel, and you want to play to a certain standard. I think that’s probably where Sid is at right now. There’s not really a concern on our end, or on his end, at this point.”
In Other News...
Hellebuyck Standoff Just Put Even More Pressure On The Jets
Connor Hellebuycks situation has already become one of the biggest storylines hanging over Winnipegs offseason, and now the market around him is shifting again. Florida had reportedly explored a trade package for the Jets goaltender, but the Panthers have since moved their attention to Brady Tkachuk, taking those original pieces off the table while still leaving the possibility of future interest open.
For Winnipeg, the bigger issue is that the standoff has only added pressure to an already delicate situation. Hellebuycks trade request has put the Jets in a difficult spot, and his absence from training camp has pushed the matter from routine trade chatter into something far more serious for the organization to manage. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Nearly Made A Huge Blue-Line Splash Fans Never Saw Coming
Talk around the league this week has again drifted to the kind of trade chatter that can reshape a roster in a hurry, and the Jets remain part of that conversation because Connor Hellebuyck keeps coming up as the sort of goaltender teams would love to chase if the price were right. Florida reportedly made a significant push to try to land him from Winnipeg, with players and draft capital in the mix, a reminder that the market for elite talent can get serious fast even when nothing ultimately happens.
The Bruins, meanwhile, were doing their own blue-line digging, exploring what it would take to pry Filip Hronek from Vancouver and floating an offer built around a prospect and first-round picks. The Canucks, though, are not interested in moving him, which leaves Boston looking elsewhere for help and keeps the bigger question hanging over all of these calls: which teams are willing to pay the premium when the right name becomes available, and which ones are just checking the temperature. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Camp Already Has One Big Tension Around Opening Night
Training camp moved into its second day at the Hockey for All Centre, with Nino Niederreiter, Adam Lowry, Cole Perfetti and coach Scott Arniel all available to the media as the Jets continued the slow build toward the regular season. It is the time of year when every detail gets a little sharper, from line combinations to schedules, and Winnipeg already has a practical wrinkle to sort through before the opening night buzz really starts.
The club has had to adjust the start times for 12 home games after Manitoba decided to stay on daylight time year-round, a small change on paper that will still affect how the first few weeks of home hockey feel for players and fans. Before that becomes part of the nightly routine, a Prospect Challenge game in Edmonton offers a look at mostly young Jets players, with the game set to be streamed on the teams website. [Read more 🡒]