Buffalo Sabres: 3 reasons why it’s time to stop talking about Hellebuyck
For weeks, we’ve heard whispers that Connor Hellebuyck was linked to the Buffalo Sabres. And it’s a blockbuster rumor that won’t come into fruition.
For a while now, we’ve talked about a potential trade for Connor Hellebuyck, just like they’ve been doing everywhere. And rarely have I thought it was a good idea for the Buffalo Sabres to trade for the Winnipeg Jets goaltender.
I think I wrote one piece even remotely endorsing it, and that was regarding the trade package I cited Lance Lysowski of Buffalo News proposing a few weeks back. Other than that, I’ve often stressed it just isn’t wise for a team not only looking to build, but to sustain a strong prospects pool to trade a ransom for a 30-year-goaltender.
But I’m not going to sit here and make the, “I don’t know, I just don’t think it’s a good idea,” claim. Not only is that the absolute worst reasoning in the known universe, but you deserve a few reasons why it’s time to stop talking about Hellebuyck and accept the fact general manager Kevyn Adams isn’t trading for the guy. Let’s dive in.
Why it’s time Buffalo Sabres fans stopped talking about Hellebuyck
1 – Sabres aren’t paying for a potential rental
The Buffalo Sabres aren’t risking paying someone whose current AAV sits at $6.167 million for a season while giving up potentially current and future assets in the process. That would be foolish for a team who hasn’t made the playoffs in over 12 seasons whose plan is more than coming into fruition.
Sure, the Jets can help pick up the tab, but that probably means giving up even more in terms of current and future assets. The entire point of Kevyn Adams’ plan was for the Sabres to become a successful team and maintain that success long-term.
Making such a trade for Hellebuyck puts that success at risk regardless of how you look at it. This reason alone is why Hellebuyck isn’t coming to the Queen City, however. The next one on the list should make you cringe.
2 – Hellebuyck has rarely been a proven winner
Overall, Connor Hellebuyck helped lead the Winnipeg Jets on one magical playoff run, and that occurred in 2017-18. Since 2018-19, Hellebuyck has still been one of the NHL’s better goaltenders, but he’s fringe in terms of playoff success.
Not only have the Jets won just a single playoff series since, which came during the truncated 2020-21 season, but during that time, Hellebuyck’s been very average in the net during the postseason. His quality starts percentage has sat at 0.500 or below overall in three of the Jets previous four playoff appearances.
And in this past postseason, he was unable to bail his team out. I’ve seen many talk about Hellebuyck like he’s a franchise goaltender, but he looked like anything but when the Jets lost in five games to the Vegas Golden Knights, posting an 0.886 save percentage and a 3.44 GAA.
3 – Hellebuyck wouldn’t fit into the Sabres long-term plans
We don’t know whether Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will be a long-term fit for the Buffalo Sabres, but we know Devon Levi, barring a catastrophic season, should be with the Blue and Gold for at least the next decade. Hellebuyck is already 30 years old, and even if he has five or so decent seasons left, he’s overaged when it comes to being a core player.
Kevyn Adams has already been signing those core players to long-term deals, like Tage Thompson and Mattias Samuelsson. It won’t be long until Rasmus Dahlin and perhaps even Owen Power join them. Then Adams needs to account for Casey Mittelstadt and Peyton Krebs, two more young players who are also in contract seasons.
Hellebuyck will be 31 once the 2023-24 season ends and he will be looking to cash out. It wouldn’t surprise me if Hellebuyck’s next AAV graced the $8.5 million or $9 million mark for at least five years, something Adams would never pay a goaltender with Levi being present. That’s reckless in and of itself, and once again, it’s mortgaging the future.
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Overall, Hellebuyck isn’t coming to the Buffalo Sabres for more than just the three reasons listed above. Adams isn’t interested in a rental who’s barely won anything in the playoffs since 2017-18, and he’s not paying him big money to stick around.
Source: Mike Harrington: Sabres’ goalie dilemma can be helped by not resting on making move for defense, BuffaloNews.com
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)