No matter how intense the Connor Hellebuyck trade rumors became — they reached their peak ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft in late June, at least from a Buffalo Sabres perspective — general manager Jarmo Kekalainen never appeared desperate to make the move.
Kekalainen talked up the Sabres' current goaltending trio of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon and Colten Ellis on multiple occasions, and always seemed wary of paying a king's ransom for a 33-year-old goalie coming off the worst season of his decorated career.
Now, a few weeks after Hellebuyck was dealt from the Winnipeg Jets to the New Jersey Devils, the leader of Buffalo's front office hinted to Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News the asking price was too high, especially when considering the team's other possible trade pursuits:
"You make a big move once, and you're out of other ones a lot of times. There may be other areas that we feel we need to address more. And there's the price of doing business. If I can tell you what (Winnipeg) was asking to take off our team, most of the people screaming to get Hellebuyck would probably say, 'No way, don't do it.'"Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen
Although Kekalainen didn't reveal the Jets' demands, Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos reported in July that Winnipeg's initial ask was headlined by rising star Zach Benson.
Meanwhile, the Sabres' most pressing need is a true No. 1 center. They tried to land Robert Thomas from the St. Louis Blues ahead of last season's trade deadline and have been linked to Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings, though they haven't been added to his trade list.
Those type of high-impact players don't come cheap, so giving up a substantial package of young NHL players, prospects and draft picks for Hellebuyck would have left the Blue and Gold short on valuable trade chips as they continue to chase a first-line centerman.
It's a critical void, first created in 2021 when Jack Eichel was dealt to the Vegas Golden Knights, that's become particularly problematic early in the 2026-27 season as Buffalo's offense has dropped from fifth in goals per game (3.45) last season to 23rd through 15 games (2.93).
In turn, Kekalainen should be ultra aggressive in his efforts to land a game-changing offensive talent as the Sabres attempt to keep pace in the Atlantic Division gauntlet.
Would Hellebuyck have been a nice fit, too? Sure, but an organization is always going to have priorities, and right now there are more pressing roster matters that require resources.
Sabres will soon get to resume their successful three-goalie rotation
Kekalainen has never sounded as concerned about Buffalo's goaltending situation as some members of the diehard fanbase.
He's consistently pointed out the trio's success last season, when the Sabres ranked third in the NHL in team save percentage (.900), even though that key number has dipped considerably (.878) with UPL and Ellis splitting starts during Lyon's injury absence.
Here's the good news: The team should be able to get back to the rotation in the near future.
Lyon returned to practice this week and Buffalo head coach Lindy Ruff said the veteran netminder is probably just "days away" from his first start of the campaign.
"I'm just frothing at the mouth at this point to play some games," Lyon told reporters.
Ruff did a wonderful job managing the starts between the pipes in 2025-26. It's a delicate balance between riding the hot hand and making sure there's enough work, both in games and practices, to keep all of the goalies sharp.
Ellis was an important part of the puzzle for a few reasons. First, he played well despite having the longest stretches between opportunities to play among the three. Second, he usually served as the in-game backup, allowing the non-starter a full night of rest.
Now Buffalo will see whether lightning can strike twice. Luukkonen and Ellis have played better lately, but it still hasn't been the same level of performance the club received last season. Getting Lyon back in the mix could be the missing part of the equation.
If so, that quest to find an offensive spark (and ideally a long-term solution atop the center depth chart) will become even more prominent for Kekalainen and the Sabres.
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