A surprising team enters the Connor Hellebuyck conversation
Photo credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
The Anaheim Ducks have reportedly kicked the tires on Connor Hellebuyck, adding a surprise name to the crowd of teams monitoring the star goaltender's availability in Winnipeg.
Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman shed light on the Ducks' involvement while explaining how flexible the Hart and Vezina Trophy winner has been about his next destination.
Connor Hellebuyck widened his list more than any other player with trade protection this summer...anywhere he thought could win. Buffalo was the closest to getting something done. I think Anaheim and Utah were among those that took a peek
Why Anaheim Makes Sense
A young, ascending Ducks roster is at the stage where one elite piece can change the outlook, and goaltending is the position that swings tight playoff races more than any other.
Hellebuyck is 33, yet he backstopped Team USA to Olympic gold, so the ceiling remains sky-high.
The financial side is the sticking point. His $8.5 million cap hit runs through 2030-31, and any deal would likely force Anaheim to weigh what happens with Lukas Dostal, the goalie already in place.
Trading one starter for another only works if the upgrade justifies the assets leaving.
Buffalo Still Leads the Pack
Friedman pointed to the Sabres as the team nearest to finishing a trade, which fits with earlier reports that Buffalo and Winnipeg could not agree on terms around the draft.
Utah has also been tied to the netminder, giving Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff multiple suitors to play against one another.
Hellebuyck publicly confirmed his trade request, which weakens Winnipeg's leverage and puts pressure on the Jets to find a resolution rather than wait for an ideal offer.
Anaheim entering the conversation, even casually, gives the Jets another option, and it gives Hellebuyck another landing spot where he believes winning is realistic.
Whether a peek turns into a real offer remains to be seen, but the Ducks now belong in the Hellebuyck conversation. Keep an eye on this one as the season unfolds and Winnipeg's patience runs thin.
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