The latest on Connor Hellebuyck
Sportsnet: Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas on the 32 Thoughts: The Podcast – Big Names, Big Thoughts episode, updating the Winnipeg Jets, Connor Hellebuyck situation.
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Bukauskas: “Connor Hellebuyck and the Winnipeg Jets. Is there anything new there?”
Friedman: “Yeah, I, so someone sent me on the weekend an Instastory. I guess from like a rec hockey player or a beer league hockey player in Winnipeg last week, and by the time I got to it, it had been deleted. I couldn’t find it, and I looked into it a bit. And I think a lot of us are looking at this, is a huge story, obviously: what’s going to happen with Hallebuyck and the Winnipeg Jets?
You know, he’s a former MVP, and he won a gold medal last year, and he’s a backbone of their team. And the more I’ve looked into it, Kyle, the more I really feel for everyone involved, the Jets, the organization, Hellebuyck, and most of their fan, the vast majority of their, of their fan base.
You know, I just think that there were some things that happened last year that were out of the Jets’ control, post-Olympics, that have made this situation impossible to resolve. I think the Jets were hopeful that maybe it would change, but I don’t think that’s possible at all. And you know, it was something that was out of their hands, and you know, I understand Hellebuyck’s feelings on this.
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As somebody who badly wants the Stanley Cup to come back to Canada at some point to cover one of those before Sportsnet eventually does wise up and fire me, I was hoping maybe there could be a resolution between Hellebuyck and the Jets. But I just don’t believe that’s possible because of circumstances that are kind of out of their control. And you know, I, I do think the Jets understand that now, and we’ll see where this goes over the, the next few days.
You know, I, I think that a couple of things are at play here. Number one, Hellebuyck’s list of where he’s willing to go is much, much wider than some of the other players who’ve asked for trades. Like, obviously, I don’t think he’s going to a Canadian team, but like I’ve heard, it’s not one of those things where it’s about sunlight or about taxes or anything like that. It’s just about where does he think he can win? And it’s a wider list.
I think the biggest challenge here, and I did say this on NHL Network about a week ago, and I know it’s been referenced, and I, and I still think it’s the big thing is, what has changed since the draft?
You know, Buffalo doesn’t have that fourth pick anymore. Florida, I believe Florida made an offer, but I think some of the pieces, not all of the pieces, but some of the big pieces in that offer have since been traded elsewhere. Like the draft package for Brady. Potentially someone like Evan Rodriguez, who’s now with the Devils. Like, they don’t have that stuff anymore.
And I think there’s some players, and I suspect that (Ukka-Pekka) Luukkonen in Buffalo might be one. Their trade list changed on July 1st, and knowing potentially he could have been traded to Winnipeg in a Hellebuyck deal, did he protect it?
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And I do think it’s obvious that Winnipeg’s got Stuart Skinner there now, and he talked to the media the other day, but you know, I do think they were looking for another goalie. I think there’s some that can block a trade there.
So I don’t know where this is going to go, but I do think Winnipeg is going to try to do it. They have to do well. Like, this is a very, very important trade for the Jets, and they have to do well. But I think there’s a recognition now that this has to happen and is going to happen.
And I know, you know, the Jets are under a lot of heat. You know, the one thing I’ll do is, I’ll wait to see what this looks like when it’s over, and what kind of deal they make before I pass judgment. I think the biggest challenge for the Jets was realizing that they could, you know, we couldn’t go back in time, and a deal has to get done at some point. But I really do feel badly for everybody involved here. This is, this is not like some of the other situations. This is, this is different.”
Bukauskas: “So, have you gotten a sense whether or not you know for, for Kevin Cheveldayoff is the, is he steadfast in that whatever the centrepiece is of a potential return, does it have to be immediate help or a roster player? Is he open to futures ever evolving the longer this goes on?”
Friedman: “I don’t think they want futures. I think they want to compete.”
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Bukauskas: “Yeah, that’s what I would think. Yeah, but the longer this goes on, the more uncomfortable it gets.
Friedman: “So I think yes, and you know we’ll see. Training camp begins next week.
You know, I, so I think Buffalo’s still around it. I think Utah’s still around it. I think Carolina is still around it. I’ve had very mixed messaging on New Jersey. For a time I heard they weren’t interested. I know some people think they are. I always assume there’s people out there I haven’t uncovered yet. But I heard like, you know, Winnipeg has prioritized, and we’ll see if it changes, but at times, they have prioritized the goalie back.”
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