Report: Sabres Offered Leading Scorer Quinn As Part Of Package For Hellebuyck

The Buffalo Sabres are moving forward with goalie Connor Hellebuyck now with the New Jersey Devils, but details continue to filter out as to what the club offered to acquire the 33-year-old Hart and Vezina Trophy winner before the NHL Draft last June. 

According to David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period, the trade package that Buffalo was prepared to give up included goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen,winger Jack Quinn, another piece that may have been 2025 first rounder Radim Mrtka, and a swap of the fourth overall pick obtained in the Bowen Byram deal for Winnipeg’s first rounder (8th overall), but the Jets wanted to retain the pick to select Viggo Bjorck, which they did after the deal fell apart. 

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Based on the return the Jets got from the Devils (center Dawson Mercer, goalie Nico Daws, 2026 first rounder Alexander Command, forward Nick Bjugstad, and a pair of draft picks), the deal with the Sabres appears to be superior, as Luukkonen would have taken the place of Stuart Skinner, who Winnipeg signed after July 1. Quinn currently leads Buffalo with 11 points. 

Pagnotta also believes that Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen is looking to add some scoring help with Buffalo 25th in the NHL averaging 2.75 goals per game, as a replacement for the offense that left when Alex Tuch went to Washington. The Sabres have the benefit of a group of young centers that may be attractive to clubs looking to upgrade up the middle, and also a bevy of big righty defensive prospects, including Mrtka, 2026 first rounder Daxon Rudolph, and Minnesota-Duluth’s Adam Kleber.   

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