Even though the Buffalo Sabres weren't able to complete a trade for Connor Hellebuyck this offseason, it is something that they will likely continue talking to the Winnipeg Jets about. According to Elliotte Friedman on the latest 32 Thoughts podcast episode, Friedman believes it will be tough for the Jets to convince Hellebuyck to return.
"We'll see what happens with Hellebuyck. They have talked about can they convince him to come back, and I think that's going to be a really hard thing to do. I'm not counting on that," Friedman said.
The NHL insider mentioned that the reason the trade with the Sabres wasn't able to go through was the Jets wanted the fourth overall pick. However, if Buffalo traded that they wanted the eighth as part of the trade package, and the Jets weren't willing to do that.
Now that the NHL Draft is over and Hellebuyck is unlikely to return, the focus can shift to building a new draft package for the Vezina Trophy goalie. For Jarmo Kekalainen, almost all options should be on the table, and it likely will be, including the 2027 first-round pick plus players.
When looking at the players the Sabres currently have, these are five players that they should be willing to trade, and one they should make untouchable.
Available: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Any trade package from the Buffalo Sabres should include Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen because the Jets will need a starting goalie. Meanwhile, the Sabres would still have Alex Lyon and Colten Ellis on the roster, and there would be no reason to have four goalies.
While the Sabres would seemingly have to trade Luukkonen, he shouldn't be viewed as a throw-in to a trade. He is coming off a career year and is under contract for three more seasons.
The combination of Luukkonen and Stuart Skinner gives the Jets a decent goalie duo that they could certainly win with. It would signal to the players and fans that they are not giving up on the season by trading Hellebuyck.
Available: Josh Norris
When Josh Norris has been on the ice for the Buffalo Sabres, he has been rather productive, and in 44 games last season, he had 34 points. However, the concern is durability, and while he is talented enough to be a top-line center, he hasn't shown he can stay healthy consistently to secure that role.
For the Jets, they could still believe in his upside, and it's worth taking a risk on the player. He is only 26 years old, and if he stays healthy, Norris can certainly be a Top 6 forward.
The contract could also be a sticking point if he is included, as he still has four years left with an AAV of $7.95 million. It would be unclear how much they value Norris but for the Buffalo Sabres, he is a player they could agree to include in a trade package.
Available: Jiri Kulich/Jack Quinn/Radim Mrtka
The next three players are grouped together because the Sabres should be willing to trade any of these three, but they should not be willing to include more than one of these players.
Jack Quinn has been the most productive in the NHL to this point among the three after 20 goals and 31 assists. He is entering the final year of his entry-level contract and will be a restricted free agent after the season.
Jiri Kulich might have the most upside of any of the three and looked excellent late in the 2024-25 season when he was playing on the top line for Buffalo. However, he missed almost the entire season after the discovery of a blood clot, and there is certainly some risk trading for a player who is coming off a serious health issue.
Radim Mrtka was the Sabres' first-round pick in 2024 and has been a part of one agreed-upon trade already. He would have been a member of the St. Louis Blues if Colton Parayko decided to waive his no-trade clause.
Not Available: Konsta Helenius
Outside of the obvious players like Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, Zach Benson, or Josh Doan, there are a few players the Sabres can't even think about trading. One player is Konsta Helenius, who looks to be on the verge of being a breakout star for Buffalo.
The former first-round pick made his NHL debut last season and played in nine regular-season games. He would return to the lineup in the playoffs and played in the final four games of the series against the Montreal Canadiens.
The strong play has continued on the international stage in the IIHF World Championships, and it wouldn't be surprising if Helenius were in the Sabres' Top 6 very early in the season. If the Jets refuse to do a trade for Connor Hellebuyck without getting Konsta Helenius as part of the trade in return, the Buffalo Sabres should be more than comfortable moving on.
Add us as a preferred source on Google