It has been the storyline of the offseason and will continue to be until the Winnipeg Jets trade Connor Hellebuyck. According to Winnipeg Free Press' Mike McIntyre, it is almost a guarantee that it will happen; however, it might not be to the Buffalo Sabres.
In McIntyre's recent newsletter, he wrote about the Hellebuyck situation: "I firmly believe Connor Hellebuyck is going to be traded. In fact, I’d put the odds somewhere north of 95 per cent. I just don’t know exactly when, or to whom."
Since the rumors began around the NHL Draft, they have only grown louder, and it certainly seems that a trade was always the likely outcome. McIntyre's reasoning to write that it is basically a certainty is that the Jets elected to sign Stuart Skinner in free agency to replace Eric Comrie, who would sign with the San Jose Sharks.
He also notes that the agent for all three goalies involved in this has the same agent in Ray Petkau. That is noteworthy because Petkau probably wouldn't let Skinner sign in Winnipeg if he believed Hellebuyck would be there next season.
Buffalo Sabres still the favorite but could be competing with the San Jose Sharks
McIntyre also wrote that the Sabres are still the "most logical landing spot," but also mentions the Sharks as a possible trade partner for the Jets. The reason is that Hellebuyck and Comrie have been a great duo in Winnipeg and could replicate that in San Jose.
The Sharks certainly could use an upgrade at the position, as the only other goalies under contract are Alex Nedeljkovic and Yaroslav Askarov.
However, from the Jets' perspective, the Sabres probably are the team that can offer the better return in a trade. They have Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who can be paired with Skinner, but they also have a bunch of forwards that might make sense in their lineup, like Josh Norris and Jack Quinn.
The reason a trade hasn't been made to this point is that the Jets wanted the fourth overall pick going into the NHL Draft. The Sabres appeared to be willing to trade that, but wanted the eighth overall pick as part of the trade, and Winnipeg was unwilling.
At the end of the day, Connor Hellebuyck has the leverage as he has a no-trade clause and can determine where he wants to play next. He reportedly already agreed he would waive it to go to Buffalo, but it is unclear if he would do the same for San Jose. Although with Comrie there, it becomes more of a possibility.
As McIntyre notes, right now it is unclear when a trade is going to happen, but it feels very likely. The Sabres' best strategy at this point is to remain patient because it is the Jets who seemingly have the deadline.
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