Trade discussions between the Buffalo Sabres and Winnipeg Jets about superstar goalie Connor Hellebuyck have turned into an old-school 15-round heavyweight bout. Neither side is willing to back down, which has led to at least a short-term stalemate.
Although rumors suggest the clubs are still talking, it's unclear whether a blockbuster deal remains possible following the 2026 NHL Draft. Buffalo, which held the No. 4 overall pick, decided to use it on defenseman Daxon Rudolph rather than include it in the Hellebuyck package.
The Sabres still have a wide range of potential assets. It includes young players like Jiri Kulich and Noah Ostlund, a top-ranked prospect in Radim Mrtka and future first-round draft picks. The pieces are still there to get a trade done.
One name must remain out of the conversations, though: Konsta Helenius.
The 20-year-old Finnish forward joined Buffalo's lineup midway through the team's second-round playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens. He immediately established himself as one of the Sabres' most dangerous offensive players, scoring two goals in four games.
His standout postseason performances came on the heels of a regular season where he dominated the AHL with the Rochester Americans (63 points in 63 appearances) and received his first taste of NHL action with the Blue and Gold (four points in nine contests).
Helenius already has the look of a longtime top-six fixture and, once he gains a couple years of seasoning at hockey's highest level, he possesses a real chance to become a first-line stud.
Meanwhile, Hellebuyck will one day be enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame, but there are some drawbacks for interested teams. He's 33, coming off the worst statistical season of his career (.895 save percentage in 57 games) and carries an $8.5 million salary-cap hit through 2030-31.
Could the four-time All-Star immediately bounce back to his prior elite level of performance? Of course, but there's still a fair amount of risk involved for the acquiring organization if he's ultimately dealt at some point this offseason.
That's why Helenius, the Sabres' most promising young player, should be off limits.
Is there any trade scenario where the Buffalo Sabres could make Konsta Helenius available?
The only way Buffalo should even consider a deal this summer where Helenius is one of the centerpieces is if general manager Jarmo Kekalainen is landing an unquestioned No. 1 center.
Robert Thomas is the dream addition. The St. Louis Blues centerman is everything the Sabres are missing on their current roster: A playmaking pivot who can score above a point per game, win faceoffs at a high rate and boost the team's woeful power play.
Buffalo was linked to Thomas ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline no a deal wasn't reached. The Blues have indicated he's no longer on the market, and it's hard to blame them if that's the case. Players of his caliber aren't readily available around the league.
That's the bar the Sabres must jump for Helenius to enter the trade talks, though.
Yes, the Blue and Gold are trying to open their Stanley Cup window and the 2024 first-round pick is probably a few years away from reaching his peak. There could be an itch within the front office to find a player more capable of providing a significant boost in 2026-27, even if it doesn't last.
That'd be a mistake. Helenius is already flashing high-end upside and he won't each reach restricted free-agent status until 2028. He'll remain under a team-friendly contract for the foreseeable future, and the club could look to lock him up early like it did with Zach Benson and Josh Doan.
The Sabres just emerged from the longest playoff drought in NHL history (14 years). Building a sustainable foundation of young, cost-controlled talent who can provide secondary scoring while working toward the prime is the hallmark of a successful organization.
Helenius is far too important to that process for Buffalo to trade him for a modest middle-six forward or a goalie in his mid-30s coming off a down year. He could be the next face of the franchise.
That doesn't mean Hellebuyck wouldn't be a great pickup for the Sabres. He'd be a clear upgrade over the triumvirate of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon and Colten Ellis, and it'd give Kekalainen the ability to use his goaltending depth to seek upgrades elsewhere.
Every negotiation has a breaking point, however, and for Buffalo it feels like the front office should walk away from the Hellebuyck talks if the Jets are demanding Helenius be included.
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