Elliotte Friedman reveals the Panthers' failed Connor Hellebuyck offer after Brady Tkachuk twist
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Elliotte Friedman revealed the Florida Panthers' real Connor Hellebuyck offer, and it fell apart the moment Florida flipped those same assets for Brady Tkachuk.
Winnipeg fans have wondered for months what Florida put on the table before pivoting to Jacob Markstrom in net.
Now the picture is clear.
What the Panthers actually offered
Friedman laid it out on 32 Thoughts.
The Panthers' package included Evan Rodrigues, the draft capital that eventually went to Ottawa in the Tkachuk blockbuster, and one more roster player who was not Anton Lundell.
That last detail matters more than anything else.
Lundell appears to have been the piece Winnipeg actually wanted, and Florida simply would not budge.
Timing made everything worse for Florida.
Once Ottawa landed Tkachuk, those picks were gone for good, meaning the Panthers no longer had the ammunition to circle back to Winnipeg.
Rodrigues has since been dealt to New Jersey as part of the Markstrom trade, so almost every piece from that original offer has already been reassigned elsewhere.
"The Florida Panthers had made an offer for Connor Hellebuyck that included the draft capital they instead flipped for Brady Tkachuk, Evan Rodrigues, and another roster player not named Anton Lundell."
- Elliotte Friedman
- Elliotte Friedman
Why Winnipeg is still stuck
Cheveldayoff wanted a goalie coming back in a Hellebuyck deal, and Florida's offer never included one.
With Buffalo's Ukko Pekka Luukkonen reportedly carrying Winnipeg on his no trade list, the Jets' options keep shrinking.
Hellebuyck remains on the roster for now, still owed a hefty chunk of his seven year, $59.5 million deal, and there is no indication a new offer is close.
For Florida, the door on Hellebuyck looks completely shut after landing Markstrom and Akira Schmid this offseason.
The bigger question now is whether any team can put together a package Winnipeg actually values, or if Hellebuyck simply finishes the year in Winnipeg regardless of how uncomfortable it gets.
Also read on House Of Hockey :
Connor Hellebuyck's leaked trade list creates a major problem for the Jets
Connor Hellebuyck's leaked trade list creates a major problem for the Jets