Kings Enter Connor Hellebuyck Sweepstakes But Not Without Potential Complications

On Thursday, Sportsnet's Frank Seravalli introduced another team into the Connor Hellebuyck trade saga, reporting that the Western Conference contender Los Angeles Kings are among the clubs that have inquired about the Winnipeg Jets' three-time Vezina Trophy winner and the potential cost of acquiring him.

According to Seravalli, the Kings have gauged the price of bringing Hellebuyck in, and Los Angeles has received word that the goaltender would accept a trade to go there.

The insider also pointed out some obstacles as the Kings are off to a rough start, having lost all five of their opening games this season, and their goaltenders, Darcy Kuemper and Anton Forsberg, have struggled.

There is also the matter of draft picks with Seravalli noting that, as was the case last season, teams are being careful about trading their first-round picks with a star talent expected to be available first overall. Last year it was Gavin McKenna, and this year the same thinking applies even more so with standout defenseman Landon Dupont.

According to Seravalli, the risk of dealing their own first-round pick and potentially costing themselves a chance to land the Canadian defenseman is on the mind of Kings general manager Ken Holland. That could lead them, and other teams in the Hellebuyck sweepstakes, to reconsider moving their immediate picks.

Despite the difficulty of moving the 33-year-old Michigan native, the situation has not appeared to hurt the Jets. They have won four of their first six games, with Stuart Skinner performing exceptionally well in Hellebuyck's place and producing elite numbers. That success has given the team more breathing room as it weighs a decision on its former franchise netminder.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.