After Alex Tuch, the Buffalo Sabres may not have a more consequential decision to make that could impact their future than at the goalie position. General manager Jarmo Kekalainen must decide if some combination of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon, and Colten Ellis can get the Sabres to where they need to go or if he needs to swing big. There may not be a bigger move the Sabres could make than trading for Connor Hellebuyck.
On Thursday, Mike McIntryre of the Winnipeg Free Press was on WGR550 and asked specifically if the idea of the Jets trading Connor Hellebuyck was legit, which he confirmed.
"When the Jets were wrapping up after missing the playoffs, he kind of threw a bit of a grenade toward the organization," McIntryre said. "Some took it as an ultimatum, some took it as a challenge, I guess to management and ownership to fix this team or else."
McIntryre went on to state that Hellebuyck wants a Stanley Cup and as he is getting later into his career, it seems the goalie just wants to be in the best position to get one before he calls it a career.
Buffalo Sabres certainly present Connor Hellebuyck with a great opportunity to chase a Stanley Cup
While he hasn't directly stated he wants a trade, the Buffalo Sabres should at least make a phone call to see what the Winnipeg Jets might want and, more importantly, if Hellebuyck would want to come to Buffalo. The player has a full no-trade clause, so any trade would need his approval first and foremost.
However, for the Sabres, it feels like an immediate upgrade at the position to add a player who was only one season removed from winning the Vezina Trophy, which was the third of his career.
The biggest question from the Sabres' perspective is whether or not Hellebuyck can get them to the Stanley Cup. In the regular season, he is one of the best goalies, but in the playoffs, he has struggled. In fact, the last three trips to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Jets' goalie has a save percentage below .890 and a goals against average above 3.00.
If Jarmo Kekalainen and Lindy Ruff believe this is not a significant issue or is one that Hellebuyck can correct, then it is probably the one move that can really make the Sabres Stanley Cup contenders.
It will be interesting to see over the next few weeks if rumors continue to pop up, but for the Sabres and their fans, it is worth watching what moves the Jets make. If they fail to make any significant improvements, it only helps their chances of Hellebuyck being made available in trade discussions.
