Just when all hope was lost that Connor Hellebuyck wasn't going to be a potential addition for the Buffalo Sabres, America's starting goaltender went public with his trade request from the Winnipeg Jets. There is no confirmation that Hellebuyck is on Buffalo's radar, and despite what the fans may think, they might be better off keeping it that way.
Hellebuyck stole the spotlight last season with his performance in the Olympic gold medal game against Canada. It made people quickly forget that he was becoming one of the biggest playoff chokers of this era, despite being one of the few goalies to win the Hart and Vezina Trophies in the same season.
The goaltender's regular season numbers have been sterling, but in the last three playoffs, he hasn't had a save percentage above .886 (which came in the first of three poor postseasons) or a goals-against average lower than 3.08. His clutch numbers have been bad outside of one game at the Olympics, but that isn't even the reason why he isn't the right choice for the Sabres.
Connor Hellebuyck could be past his prime
The goaltender can dial it up for a couple of good games, but we can't act like Hellebuyck was held hostage in Winnipeg and hung out to dry during the 2025-26 season. It was the worst season of his NHL career, as he recorded a 2.85 goals-against average and a .895 save percentage. The Jets didn't have Norris-level defense in front of him, but Hellebuyck didn't steal them many games either.
Hellebuyck will be 34 at the end of next season and has another four seasons left on his contract. It is a bargain for what he could be at $8.5 million annually, but Buffalo would be taking a massive risk in acquiring this contract after his down year in 2025-26.
First, Hellebuyck would have to prove that his bad regular season was just an anomaly and give the Sabres a Vezina-caliber goaltender. Then, once that was proven, he would have to eliminate the narrative that he isn't able to step up in the postseason. There is a lot of risk to take on for someone who will cost them a bundle of futures and possibly roster players to acquire.
Hellebuyck has 625 NHL games played over 12 seasons. There may be some tread left on the tires, but for a team that feels they are in their competitive window, it's a risk to put their trust in an aging goaltender. His career has been relatively injury-free, but an arthroscopic knee surgery last season could've been a sign of a taxed body beginning to break down.
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