Connor Hellebuyck trade appears done but one thing is holding it back

What is missing is a yes from the Buffalo Sabres.

Winnipeg signed Stuart Skinner to a two-year deal at $3.75 million annually on July 1 after letting Eric Comrie leave in free agency. That is a replacement starter, not insurance.

Connor Hellebuyck holds a full no-movement clause, and he is believed to prefer Buffalo. General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has said publicly the Winnipeg Jets are willing to listen.

So the seller has a goalie, a destination the player has effectively approved, and a stated ask of a top-six centre and winger, per insider Chris Johnston.

Everyone is asking whether Buffalo should pay that price.

The better question is whether Buffalo still can.

Buffalo traded Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks in June to move up in the first round, then spent the fourth overall pick on defenceman Daxon Rudolph.

Alex Tuch, exactly the type of top-six winger Winnipeg is asking for, left for the Washington Capitals in a sign-and-trade on July 1.

Those were the two most tradeable pieces on Buffalo's books. Both were converted into things the Jets cannot use.

The Athletic's Murat Ates reported Buffalo's draft-week offer included the fourth overall pick but also asked Winnipeg to swap first-round selections, which the Jets refused.

Since then, general manager Jarmo Kekalainen re-signed Peyton Krebs and left just enough space to absorb an $8.5 million cap hit, provided Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen goes back the other way.

Cap space was never the obstacle.

Buffalo turned its trade chips into a teenager and cap flexibility inside of eight days.

That is the real lesson for every club chasing a no-movement star in July.

A seller can build its whole side in a week, while a buyer's assets change shape faster than the talks move.

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