Sabres GM Kekalainen Pushes Back On Trade Rumors, Expresses Confidence In Luukkonen

The chatter regarding Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck has reached a fever pitch, as the Hart and Vezina Trophy winner reportedly will come off suspension for not reporting to training camp, and will be reinstated by the club on Friday. There continues to be speculation that Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff is looking to move Hellebuyck, possibly as soon as this week.

Rumors persist that the Buffalo Sabres are in the mix for Hellebuyck, something that GM Jarmo Kekalainen deflected on an appearance on WGR 550 radio on Tuesday.  

"We  have  a  lot  of  good  players,  so  teams  call  us  all  the  time  about, 'Would you  trade  that  guy?' 'Would  you  trade  this  guy?' 'If  we  gave  you  this  or  if  we  gave  you  that?'  So  that  doesn't  mean  that  we're  looking  to  make  a  move." Kekalainen said.  "We're always looking for ways to get better.  So if there's something out  there  that  we  think  could  make  our  team  better, we (are)  prepared  to  make  the  move,  even  if  it's  a  big  or  unpopular  one.  We  were  always  looking  for  ways  to  make  the  team  better,  but  I  don't  really  pay  attention  to  the  rumors." 

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Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman revealed on his 32 Thoughts podcast earlier this week that the Sabres maintain their interest in Hellebuyck, and that the 33-year-old is open to being dealt to Buffalo, but Cheveldayoff has to make a deal with a significant return. 

Friedman also indicated that the New York Rangers (as a middleman to a possible trade), because of the season-ending injury to Igor Shesterkin could be involved in some way, and that other teams (Utah Mammoth, Los Angeles Kings, and Carolina Hurricanes) could be in the mix. 

A potential trade between Buffalo and Winnipeg did not take place around the NHL Draft in June, and Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen being included in the trade is thought to be unlikely after his five-team no-trade protection kicked in on July 1. Speculation regarding Luukkonen and the New York Rangers increased last week after Rangers goalie scout Scott Clemmensen was spotted in Montreal on Tuesday, but Kekalainen reiterated his belief that he is the goalie of the present and future for Buffalo.

“We believe in our goaltending; they had really good numbers last year. They were good for us, all three of them,” Kekalainen said. “Alex Lyon has been hurt, and he’s close to coming back, and we’ll see where he’s at when he does. Colten Ellis played some excellent games for us last year. He hasn’t been quite as good as he was…but we believe he’ll get there again…..Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is a really good goaltender that has a lot to give to the Buffalo Sabres and will be a big part of our future”

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