Jacob Stoller and Patrick Williams play a game of 'Would You Rather' with three young AHL defensemen on the rise. Connor Hellebuyck stops a shot by Nico Hischier in an April 2 matchup between the New Jersey Devils and Winnipeg Jets. [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwMzk5MDM5ODU2OTExNzM2/usatsi_20380324.jpg] Connor Hellebuyck stops a shot by Nico Hischier in an April 2 matchup between the New Jersey Devils and Winnipeg Jets. Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was a frequent subject of trade rumors [https://thehockeynews.com/news/connor-hellebuyck-could-return-with-the-winnipeg-jets] earlier in the off-season. Reports of his reluctance to sign a contract extension fuelled the conjecture. With the goalie trade market having dried up, it appears Hellebuyck could start the season with the Jets. Nevertheless, that hasn't stopped some pundits from speculating over potential trade destinations for the 30-year-old netminder. NHL Network's Mike Rupp [https://twitter.com/NHLNetwork/status/1694061876764910002] suggested last week that the New Jersey Devils should take a run at acquiring Hellebuyck. He's unsure if they would agree to sign the former Vezina Trophy winner to a long-term contract. However, Rupp felt that Hellebuyck would still be a good fit with the Devils if they hope to win the Stanley Cup this season. This isn't the first time Hellebuyck's been linked to the Devils. On June 29, The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun [https://theathletic.com/4650722/2023/06/29/nhl-draft-no-trades-lebrun/] reported they were interested, but he didn't believe they wanted to pay a big return to the Jets to get him. LeBrun indicated they were comfortable “just running it back in goal” with Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid. Sportsnet's Ryan Dixon [https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/biggest-unanswered-question-for-each-team-in-the-metropolitan-division/] believes the Devils will “almost certainly” start this season with Vanecek and Schmid. However, he wondered if they might toss their hat in the ring if Hellebuyck became available. Expect the Jets GM to remain patient as he waits for Hellebuyck's trade value to improve. Dixon believes that Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff won't rush into a trade [https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/biggest-unanswered-question-for-each-team-in-the-central-division/] simply for the sake of closure with Hellebuyck. He pointed out that Cheveldayoff held firm in his asking price for Pierre-Luc Dubois and more or less got what he wanted from the Los Angeles Kings.
