Friedman On Connor Hellebuyck: “I Still Think Buffalo Is Around There”

The situation with the Winnipeg Jets and goalie Connor Hellebuyck could be entering a new phase, and the Buffalo Sabres reportedly remain interested in the 33-year-old netminder. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman revealed on Saturday that the gold medal winner approached the Jets about returning to the club in early October and that a suspension of a “reasonable length,” as stipulated in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, would end on October 23. 

Hellebuyck made his trade request at the end of last season public in late August, but GM Kevin Cheveldayoff was not been able to find a return acceptable to his club. Friedman indicated that there are some teams interested in the Hart and Vezina Trophy winner who were waiting to see what Winnipeg would do when they faced some deadline pressure, presumably to see if it lowered the club’s asking price.  

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The indication is that Cheveldayoff would rather not pull the trigger on a deal simply to move Hellebuyck on, which would force interested clubs to step up to the table with their best offers. The Sabres are thought to be amongst a small group of teams in the mix for Hellebuyck, and Friedman indicated that he still thinks that Buffalo is interested. 

The recent season-ending injury to Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin may be a factor in a possible deal, but not as a destination for Hellebuyck, but as a landing spot for another goalie to enable another team to deal for him. Sportsnet’s Frank Seravalli indicated that the Los Angeles Kings have interest in Hellebuyck, as well as the Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes. 

 A potential trade between Buffalo and Winnipeg did not take place around the NHL Draft in June, and the odds of a deal including Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen decreased after July 1, reportedly because Luukkonen’s five-team no-trade clause kicked in at that point and enabled him to block a trade to Winnipeg.

Rangers goalie scout Scott Clemmensen was in Montreal on Tuesday, when Luukkonen made 35 saves in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Habs, leading to speculation that New York could be a potential option for UPL. Any deal involving Buffalo would likely include have to include one of their young centers (Noah Ostlund or Konsta Helenius), one of their top prospect defenseman (Daxon Rudolph or Radim Mrtka), and/or an established NHL forward (Jack Quinn or Ryan McLeod). 

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