The Winnipeg Jets open training camp next week, and goalie Connor Hellebuyck is likely hoping that a trade will occur before that. The Vezina and Hart Trophy winner revealed his trade request late last month and according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, there appears to be no chance of reconciliation between the Jets and the netminder who has played 625 games over 11 seasons in Manitoba since 2015.
“Some things that happened last year that were out of the Jets control, post-Olympics, that have made the situation impossible to resolve. I think the Jets were hopeful that maybe it would change, but I don’t think that’s possible at all.” Friedman said on Thursday’s 32 Thoughts podcast. “”I do think the Jets understand that now & we’ll see where this goes over the next few days.”
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Where will Connor Hellebuyck end up?
Friedman indicates that a Hellebuyck trade may move more swiftly, since the 33-year-old has a much larger list of destinations than other players who looked to move this summer, but that deals that were discussed around the NHL Draft in June are not possible now, since assets that were involved in trade offers (such as first round picks, players or prospects) were either selected, used in other deals, or unavailable due to no-trade clauses that fell into place after July 1.
Specific to Buffalo, the fourth overall pick (used to select defenseman Daxon Rudolph) is now unavailable, and goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen five-team no-trade clause came into effect in July. The Florida Panthers were reportedly interested, but some of the pieces offered in the deal for Hellebuyck were since used to acquire forward Brady Tkachuk and goalie Jacob Markstrom from New Jersey.
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Friedman indicated that it is imperative for Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff to do well in a Hellebuyck trade, and is looking for a hockey trade rather than future assets to keep the Jets as a competitive club. Along with the Sabres, the Utah Mammoth and Carolina Hurricanes are still in the mix, but there are mixed signals of whether the New Jersey Devils are.
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