Elliotte Friedman says Eastern team would trade for Connor Hellebuyck today
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Elliotte Friedman says the Hurricanes would trade for Connor Hellebuyck today if they could, pushing back on the idea that Carolina won't pay a goaltender.
Elliotte Friedman has a message for anyone who thinks the Carolina Hurricanes are against spending on goaltending.
Speaking on the FAN Hockey Show, the Sportsnet insider said the Hurricanes would trade for Connor Hellebuyck today if a deal were possible.
Friedman pushed back on what he called a mischaracterization of how the Hurricanes view the position.
Plenty of people assume the club simply refuses to pay a goalie big money.
He says that's not the case.
Re Connor Hellebuyck: "I think there's a mischaracterization on the way the Hurricanes think about goaltending; people think they don't believe that a goaltender should be paid; they would trade for Hellebuyck today if they could."
- Elliotte Friedman
- Elliotte Friedman
Why the Hellebuyck fit makes sense
Hellebuyck is a three-time Vezina Trophy winner carrying an $8.5 million cap hit.
Winnipeg suspended him on September 17 after he skipped training camp, and he made his trade request public in late August.
Carolina has been linked to him for weeks, mostly through a possible three-team deal built around defenseman Alexander Nikishin.
Friedman has said before that the Jets don't see Nikishin as a long-term signing, and that's a big reason nothing has gotten done.
The simplest fix, by his read, is a third team that takes Nikishin and sends assets Carolina can flip to Winnipeg for Hellebuyck.
What it says about Carolina's approach
Think about the timing. Late last month, the Hurricanes gave Pyotr Kochetkov a two-year extension worth $3.95 million per season, so they clearly value their own goalie.
Still chasing Hellebuyck on top of that suggests they judge each goaltender on his own merits instead of following some blanket rule about pay.
The Hurricanes are the reigning Stanley Cup champions, so adding a three-time Vezina winner would be a loud statement.
Nothing looks imminent, but Friedman says the conversations are real.
Winnipeg also claimed Clay Stevenson off waivers, which could mean the Jets no longer need a goalie coming back, and that might finally open the door.
Keep an eye on this one as opening weeks roll on.
Also read on House Of Hockey :
The Jets could have a costly punishment waiting for Connor Hellebuyck if he returns
The Jets could have a costly punishment waiting for Connor Hellebuyck if he returns