New Reports Name Sabres, Rangers Among Frontrunners for Connor Hellebuyck

On Monday, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman offered more insight on the Connor Hellebuyck trade front and on what the Winnipeg Jets might do before the goaltender's suspension ends Friday, speaking on the matter on an episode of his 32 Thoughts podcast.

According to Friedman, Hellebuyck was not simply sitting out of the Jets lineup as the 33-year-old was suspended by the team, even though he told the club around the season opener that he was ready to return. 

Because he had left the team without permission, Friedman explained, the Jets had added power under the CBA to hand down a suspension of "reasonable length." The league and the Players Association settled on roughly two and a half to three weeks, and the suspension runs through this Friday, October 23.

That gives Winnipeg a Friday deadline to decide between three paths of either trading the three-time Vezina Trophy winner, keeping him out of the lineup while paying him, or let him return to the ice.

On the trade front, Friedman said the situation comes down to a handful of teams. The first is the long-rumored Buffalo Sabres, who have wanted Hellebuyck and whom Friedman said the goaltender is willing to join. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is one possible piece Buffalo could send back.

The Utah Mammoth have been in and out of the conversation, according to Friedman. He noted that it is a big year for Utah, and its goaltending has been uneven, with Karel Vejmelka off to a rough start a season removed from starting the most games in the league last season.

The New York Rangers are more of a wild card with Friedman saying he does not think they are likely to want Hellebuyck, but their handling of the injury to Igor Shesterkin could set off a chain reaction around the league. 

"Whatever Chris Drury is going to do here with the injury to Shesterkin, it could set a chain reaction around the league," Friedman said. "I just think the overall arc of their season, especially with the Rangers being as competitive as they are, I think they feel they can do better. I think they're going to do something."

The Carolina Hurricanes remain a potential fourth contender with Friedman again saying that they are interested but that he doesn't think a deal between the two clubs is easy to make. Sportsnet's Frank Seravalli also reported recently that the Los Angeles Kings have inquired, though Friedman said he has trouble seeing what the trade would look like.

Friedman has said the Jets prefer no deal over a bad deal, which makes the situation tougher when a team has to pay a player to stay away. If a trade is coming, it could happen in the next few days and if not, Winnipeg may face an awkward return.

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