The Connor Hellebuyck trade sweepstakes have quieted down in recent weeks, but Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman still thinks the Winnipeg Jets are going to have a tough time convincing their superstar goaltender to stay, so this saga is far from over.
Teams like the Buffalo Sabres, Florida Panthers, and New Jersey Devils have drawn the most attention as landing spots for Hellebuyck, and understandably so. However, based on Friedman’s recent comments during 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, the Colorado Avalanche may be a suitor that many have overlooked who have tried to work their way into the mix.
“By the way, I had a couple of teams say to me they wondered if Colorado took a shot at Connor Hellebuyck. I don’t know how that could work. I don’t know what they would offer and I’m not sure Winnipeg would wanna see that. But there were a couple of teams that kind of suspected the Avalanche considered it,”
The 33-year-old Hellebuyck has five years remaining on the seven-year, $59.5 million contract extension he signed with the Jets in 2023. He went 23-23-11 while posting a 2.86 goals-against average and a .895 save percentage across 57 starts last season.
Colorado currently has next to no cap space, so they would need to shed around $8 million to make a deal work. Flipping MacKenzie Blackwood and his $5.25 million cap hit would be a start, while adding another contract or getting Winnipeg to retain part of Hellebuyck’s salary would also be necessary. Not to mention including draft picks and/or prospects to entice GM Kevin Cheveldayoff to make the move.
It’s going to be difficult for the Avalanche to pull off, but if Hellebuyck is unwilling to remain a Jet, Winnipeg may have no choice but to trade him for a lesser return than it would like. That, in turn, could benefit teams like Colorado, where Hellebuyck would surely have interest in going.
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