Massive Connor Hellebuyck trade price named by NHL insider, questions Jets' goalie plan
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TSN analyst Martin Biron lays out a massive asking price for Connor Hellebuyck and says the Jets should shop for outside goaltending help too.
Martin Biron isn't pulling any punches on what it should cost to pry Connor Hellebuyck out of Winnipeg.
The longtime NHL goaltender turned TSN analyst broke down the situation on Sportscentre this week, and his price tag for the three time Vezina winner is steep.
Biron believes the Jets need a first round pick, a high end prospect, and two separate impact players coming back in any deal, a package that would rank among the most significant goalie trades in recent memory.
Hellebuyck, 33, carries a cap hit of $8.5 million and has five years remaining on his deal.
He also holds a no movement clause that runs until next July, giving him plenty of say in where he ends up.
His agent Ray Petkau made the trade request public this week on his behalf, turning up the pressure on general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff just weeks before training camp opens.
Biron isn't sold on the current tandem
Even with Stuart Skinner already in the fold, Biron doesn't think Winnipeg's goaltending situation is settled.
He pointed out that the Jets should be looking at outside options regardless of how the Hellebuyck saga plays out, essentially calling for the front office to add another body between the pipes no matter what happens next.
That's a notable statement considering Skinner has been viewed as the heir apparent in net.
Biron's comments suggest he doesn't see the current pairing as strong enough to carry a playoff contender through a full season.
What comes next for Winnipeg
Cheveldayoff now faces one of the biggest decisions of his tenure.
Moving Hellebuyck for anything less than what Biron described risks a public relations disaster, but finding a trade partner willing to pay that price is far from guaranteed.
Training camp is approaching fast, and the Jets are running out of time to figure out their crease.
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Connor Hellebuyck reveals his preferred trade destinations to the Jets
Connor Hellebuyck reveals his preferred trade destinations to the Jets