Elliotte Friedman makes a new prediction involving Connor Hellebuyck
Photo credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Connor Hellebuyck's name keeps surfacing in trade speculation, and Elliotte Friedman just added a fresh wrinkle to the conversation.
On the 32 Thoughts podcast, the Sportsnet insider suggested the Utah Mammoth could quietly emerge as a suitor for the star Winnipeg Jets goaltender.
I know Karel Vejmelka's a good goalie, but that's another team I've wondered about for Connor Hellebuyck
Why Utah Fits the Puzzle
Vejmelka has been a steady presence in net for Utah, but steady isn't always enough for a franchise trying to climb into true contention.
The Mammoth have spent recent seasons stockpiling young talent and draft capital, giving general manager Bill Armstrong the flexibility to chase a difference maker between the pipes.
Hellebuyck, a former Vezina and Hart Trophy winner, would represent exactly that kind of upgrade for a team hoping to close the gap on the Western Conference's elite.
Utah's prospect pool, including goaltender Sebastian Cossa and forwards like Tij Iginla and Caleb Desnoyers, gives the front office real trade currency if Armstrong decides the price is worth paying.
What Winnipeg Would Want
Any deal still hinges on what the Jets are seeking in return. Hellebuyck controls his situation with a full no-movement clause, meaning he has significant say over where he lands.
Winnipeg would likely look for a mix of NHL-ready pieces and futures, and Vejmelka's contract situation, including a no-trade list of his own, complicates using him as a return piece.
For now, Friedman's comment is speculation rather than a signal that talks are underway. But with Hellebuyck's future in Winnipeg increasingly uncertain, Utah joins a growing list of teams worth watching as the situation develops.
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