After 11 seasons with the Winnipeg Jets, a Hart Trophy and three Vezina Trophies, Connor Hellebuyck publicly requested a trade from the Jets.
Now that Hellebuyck has made it clear he wants out, he will be a trade candidate for several teams. Various teams would love a talented goaltender like him.
Here are the three top landing spots for Hellebuyck.
Top Landing Spots for Connor Hellebuyck
3. Utah Mammoth
The Utah Mammoth are true contenders for the playoffs in the upcoming season. There is just one problem on their team that they need to address in the upcoming season: goaltending. The Mammoth goaltender is Karel Vejmelka. He is decent, but not great. His save percentage was sitting at .897 and ranked 28th in the NHL, which was a problem. So targeting a player like Hellebuyck would be a great move.
The Mammoth have what the Jets want: young, talented players that could progress in year, as well as prospects, and GM Bill Armstrong has shown he is not afraid to make bold moves to make his team better.
Hellebuyck wants to join a team that will win a Stanley Cup, though the Mammoth are a newer franchise, with young talent that still needs to grow.
Hellebuyck has a full no-movement clause, which means he can control where he goes. The question is whether the Mammoth wants to be so aggressive to acquire him. As they definitely have the pieces to do so.
However, they might not have sufficient resources on their team to justify the trade.
2. New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils certainly could use a goaltender for the upcoming season. This offseason the Devils traded away Jacob Markstrom in a five player deal. Since Markstrom is gone that means the Devils need a talented goaltender. Hellebuyck would be a perfect fit.
The Devils missed the playoffs last season, and one of the main reasons was the goaltending. Markstrom’s save percentage was .883 and ranked 48th in the league. Hellebuyck could definitely change that for the Devils.
The Devils have added a lot of forwards on their roster, perhaps too many. Which means they have perfect trade candidates for Hellebuyck, like a young 24-year-old Dawson Mercer, and some first round draft picks.
Mercer is not a superstar but he will give you 20 goals per year, and Mercer has not missed one game in his career so far.
1. Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes remain interested in a trade for the Jets goaltender Hellebuyck. The Hurricanes made an offer to the Jets in June that included a first-round-draft pick and defenseman Alexander Nikishin. It is unclear if the offer still stands. Nikishin is a defenseman, 24-years-old, 6 ‘3’’ and 218 lbs. He recorded 33 points last season with 11 goals and played 81 games finishing seventh in Calder Trophy voting.
The Hurricanes could definitely use someone like Hellebuyck after the loss of Frederik Andersen, The Hurricanes also have a talented Brandon Bussi on the bench who started game five in the Stanley Cup Final, but Hellebuyck could give the Hurricanes a nice one-two punch in their goalie room.
The Carolina Hurricanes would for sure have the salary cap space to take on Hellebuyck, especially if Nikishin were involved in the trade, removing the need to re-sign him. Also Hellebuyck would likely love to play for a team that just won the Stanley Cup.
Hellebuyck moving to a new team would instantly reshape the NHL’s competitive landscape. As a perennial Vezina Trophy contender, his elite netmind, calm positioning, and ability to steal games can transform an average franchise into an immediate Stanley Cup contender. In the case of the Hurricanes, Hellebuyck would give them an even stronger chance to pull off a repeat.
Main Image: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
