Sabres goalie blocks trade that would send Connor Hellebuyck to Buffalo

Elliotte Friedman said on the latest 32 Thoughts podcast that Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is believed to have the Winnipeg Jets on his no-trade list, a twist that could stall the NHL's most closely watched goalie situation.

Friedman framed it as his belief rather than a confirmed fact, but the message was clear.

Luukkonen surfaced as a possible piece going back to Winnipeg when the Sabres pushed hard for Hellebuyck around the draft. That effort stalled over draft positioning, as the Jets wanted Buffalo's fourth overall pick while keeping their own at eighth.

Then July 1 arrived, and new protection kicked in for the Sabres netminder, who is entering the third season of a five-year contract.

Winnipeg has told rival clubs it wants a goalie coming back rather than a haul of futures. That demand shrinks the pool of suitors, and Luukkonen looked like a natural fit for a Buffalo package.

Without him, the Sabres are left with Alex Lyon and Colten Ellis, who are unlikely to satisfy a Jets team hoping to stay competitive.

Still, players can waive protection once a formal deal exists, so the door is not fully shut.

Hellebuyck, 33, made his trade request public in August and has since been suspended for skipping training camp. The 2025 Hart Trophy winner still has five seasons left on a contract paying $8.5 million a year.

Florida made a serious run earlier in the summer but moved on after landing Jacob Markstrom, and Friedman said Winnipeg cooled on a Carolina framework over possible signing concerns.

The Jets finished 35-35-12 last season, 26th overall, so management has little appetite for a move that looks like surrender.

With camp underway and no deal in sight, every no-trade clause suddenly matters. Buffalo remains the most active suitor, but the path just got narrower.

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Elliotte Friedman reveals the Florida Panthers' trade offer for Connor Hellebuyck