The Winnipeg Jets are looking to shake things up after missing the playoffs for the first time in four years, and that could include trading superstar goalie Connor Hellebuyck.
Although Hellebuyck is coming off a down season by his sky-high standards (.895 save percentage in 57 appearances), he's put together an impeccable Hockey Hall of Fame résumé, which is headlined by the 2025 Hart Trophy as the NHL's Most Valuable Player.
On Thursday, Jesse Granger of The Athletic named the Buffalo Sabres as the "best landing spot" for the four-time All-Star Game selection.
"He has already joined Dominik Hasek as the only goalies in NHL history with a Hart Trophy and at least three Vezina Trophies," Granger wrote. "If he were to accomplish what even Hasek couldn't — lead the Sabres to the Stanley Cup — it would further cement his legacy among the all-time greats."
Buffalo has stocked up on assets over the past few weeks.
First, Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen traded defenseman Michael Kesselring to the San Jose Sharks in order to move up from No. 27 to No. 20 in Round 1 of the 2026 NHL Draft, which gets underway Friday night at the KeyBank Center in downtown Buffalo.
Then, on Tuesday, Kekalainen shocked the NHL world by sending blueliner Bowen Byram and winger Jordan Greenway to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for the No. 4 overall pick, a second-round selection (No. 45) and fellow defender Louis Crevier.
So, Buffalo now has three choices in the top 45 this year as well as its first-round selections in 2027 and 2028 to use as potential assets in a blockbuster trade.
As for NHL players the Sabres could move in the coming weeks (or months), it's a group that includes Josh Norris, Jason Zucker, Jack Quinn, Conor Timmins and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen depending on the circumstances, including other moves. For example, if the Sabres acquire Hellebuyck, it's highly likely they would move on from UPL.
Is Connor Hellebuyck a wise trade target for the Buffalo Sabres?
Yes, but there are a couple caveats.
Most importantly, the Sabres should steer clear of a Hellebuyck trade if the Jets are only interested if it includes the No. 4 overall pick. Giving up a truly premium asset for a 33-year-old goalie with a $8.5 million salary through 2030-31 who's coming off the worst season of his career is too risky.
If the conversation begins with the No. 20 selection, that's a lot more palatable for Buffalo.
Secondly, the Sabres shouldn't make a trade with Winnipeg that's going to hamstring their efforts to land a proven top-six forward, and in a perfect world a stud first-line center. That's the biggest need this summer and should take precedence over everything else, including the netminder pursuit.
The dream acquisition is St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas, though the Western Conference club has signaled the 26-year-old Canadian isn't going anywhere. Other possible targets include the Detroit Red Wings' Dylan Larkin and Vancouver Canucks' Elias Pettersson, among others.
If a top-tier center isn't available — it's the preferred option because it'd allow Tage Thompson to play on the wing — it's still important to acquire a high-end scoring threat, even if it's a winger.
That's why the Hellebuyck discussion is tricky for the Sabres.
The 2026 Olympic gold medalist with Team USA (alongside Thompson) is a tremendous fit for the Blue and Gold in a vacuum and a high price tag is warranted, but Buffalo shouldn't hamper it's efforts to fill more pressing voids to land him before Friday's draft.
If Hellebuyck is still on Winnipeg's roster on Saturday morning, meaning any picks involved would shift to 2027, the outlook changes. The Jets' urgency to move the goalie will probably decrease, and the Sabres may be able to handle their other business and then circle back on him.
All told, Buffalo is facing immense competition for the Eastern Conference (and Atlantic Division) playoff spots next season, so finding a way to replace Byram and Alex Tuch to avoid taking a step back in the short term is paramount.
Adding Hellebuyck would also provide a significant boost, but the price (and timing) must be right.
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