Every Team in on Hellebuyck Trade, and Why Each Deal Fell Apart

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The Connor Hellebuyck trade to New Jersey wasn’t the only path the Winnipeg Jets explored. According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, several teams were in on the goaltender at various points, and each deal reportedly stalled for a different reason.

On his latest 32 Thoughts podcast, Friedman went through the teams he believed were legitimately part of the Hellebuyck trade conversations. Why did they each fall apart?

Florida Panthers: The Early Favorite

Friedman said Florida was likely Hellebuyck’s first choice at one point, before he opened up his list. The sticking points were on the Jets’ side. Florida reportedly offered a package built around a player and draft picks, but Winnipeg wasn’t sold on the players or a goalie coming back; the Jets needed one at the time because they didn’t have Stuart Skinner or Clay Stevenson. Florida’s offer was off the table because Florida had no goalie to give.

The pieces in play included Evan Rodrigues, Eetu Luostarinen, and the draft picks that the Panthers eventually sent to the Ottawa Senators in the Brady Tkachuk deal. Anton Lundell was never part of the deal.

Once the Jets got comfortable with their goaltending compared with where it would have been without Hellebuyck at the June draft, things changed. Of course, Florida had already dumped the picks. Would the Jets take that Florida deal today? “It’s all guesswork,” he said.

Buffalo Sabres: A Swap that Never Happened

Friedman said there was plenty of speculation about Buffalo’s side. He heard the Sabres were concerned about the injury history of one player the Jets asked about, and he couldn’t see another rumored name being involved. The bigger issue, he said, was a draft-pick swap Winnipeg wanted and Buffalo wouldn’t do. They were going to get the 4th overall pick from Buffalo, but the Sabres wanted the 8th overall pick back. The Jets wouldn’t do it.

Utah Mammoth: In It, Then Out

Friedman said Utah was “absolutely” in the mix at one point, though he doesn’t know what the Mammoth put on the table. He believes Utah ultimately pulled out, mostly because they couldn’t trade Karel Vejmelka in the deal. He also suggested a timing or contractual issue may have kept Hellebuyck from joining them, whether before or after free agency opened July 1, though he admitted he doesn’t know which.

Carolina Hurricanes: No Forwards Available

Carolina wanted Hellebuyck badly, Friedman said, but the team couldn’t land a forward that the Jets wanted in trade. The Hurricanes had plenty of options already on their roster, but they were unwilling to trade any of them. GM Eric Tulsky worked the phones diligently because he wouldn’t part with Logan Stankoven, Jackson Blake, or Seth Jarvis.

Friedman said a source confirmed the Hurricanes were “aggressive” and trying to figure out who they believed Winnipeg wanted. They couldn’t get that player they could flip, so the Hurricanes missed out. It sounds like they’re actually quite upset they couldn’t make it work.

Friedman doesn’t claim to have the full story on every detail or every team involved. “I don’t know if I’ll ever find out everything for sure,” he said, but these were the teams he believes were legitimate.

Next: NHL Trade Talk Recap: Canadiens, Maple Leafs, Oilers & Hurricanes