After a few weeks of it being quiet around Connor Hellebuyck, news has picked up over the past few days, and this is usually an indication that there is some movement closer to a resolution. That could mean Hellebuyck being traded or returning and playing for the Jets; however, the second option is probably the less likely of the two.
If the Jets finally do trade Hellebuyck, the Sabres should be viewed as the favorite, as they were close to trading for him around the NHL Draft, and they have cleared the biggest hurdle, which is the star goalie being willing to waive his no-movement clause to come to Buffalo.
However, that doesn't mean they don't have any challenges, with the biggest being what to do with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. He has a five-team no-trade clause, and Winnipeg is expected to be one of the teams on his list. That means Jarmo Kekalainen will need to find another team to trade Luukkonen to clear a path to getting Hellebuyck.
With that in mind, this is a realistic path to the Buffalo Sabres getting Connor Hellebuyck with hypothetical trades.
The first thing the Buffalo Sabres are going to have to do is move Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, or at least have a trade agreed to in principle. The New York Rangers were never expected to be a team that Kekalainen could call, but with Igor Shesterkin out for the season, they need a starting goalie.
The Rangers certainly could call to see if they could acquire Hellebuyck, but with Shesterkin expected to be back next season, there is no reason to make a big trade to acquire him. Luukkonen, though, could be the perfect answer for them, as he has plenty of experience as a starter and has shown at times he can play well.
They also seemingly are already doing their homework on the Sabres' goalie, as they had a scout at Buffalo's game on Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens.
For the Sabres, while they don't want to give Luukkonen away, the return isn't as important as creating a roster spot for Hellebuyck. Luukkonen also hasn't played well to begin the season, so it's unrealistic to expect a big return.
This package though, should be enough to get a deal done with the focus being on forward Noah Laba. He is in his second season in the NHL and had 24 points as a rookie, but what the Sabres would really value is his play on the penalty kill. According to MoneyPuck, he already has over 100 minutes of ice time on the penalty kill and has yet to be on the ice for a goal in this situation.
By adding Laba, it would give them an addition to a group that is struggling and likely will be weakened by a Hellebuyck trade.
Jarmo Kekalainen is going to have to balance two trade discussions to get this across the finish line. If he is able to get the Luukkonen trade in place, then he will need to put the final touches on the package for the Winnipeg Jets.
The trade that was discussed around the NHL Draft is no longer an option with Luukkonen's no-trade clause kicking in, and the first-round picks from that draft are obviously no longer available. However, some of the pieces are still in play, and the Sabres should be offering a first-round pick, along with their first-round pick from 2025, in Radim Mrtka.
Mrtka might be in a position where he doesn't have a clear path to the NHL with the blueline the Sabres have right now and Daxon Rudolph eventually going to be in the mix. The Sabres might have been preparing for the fact that they were trading Mrtka with a trade earlier in the week with the Pittsburgh Penguins that sent Ryan Johnson out for two defensemen.
In addition, the Sabres can offer two NHL forwards in Ryan McLeod and Josh Norris to complete the package. McLeod is off to a slow start with only two points through nine games but had 50+ points in each of the past two seasons. He is a solid middle-six forward and does a good job on the penalty kill. This is why it makes sense for Buffalo to target Laba in return from the Rangers.
The final piece might be a challenge, as Norris has also struggled to begin this season with only three points but has now had goals in two of the past three games.
Another concern with Norris is that he has struggled to stay healthy, and the Jets may be hesitant to take on that contract with three years left at an AAV of $7.95 million. He also had a five-team no-trade clause kick in at the start of July, and if Winnipeg is on the list, he would either need to waive it or the Sabres would have to find another player to include.
While it might be a little more complicated than a typical trade, the Buffalo Sabres have a path to getting Connor Hellebuyck while being able to add to a key weakness on their roster with the addition of Laba for their penalty kill.
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