The Connor Hellebuyck rumors continue to swirl, and until he is traded or definitively states he wants to remain with the Winnipeg Jets, it won't go away. For the Buffalo Sabres, though, they can't wait forever, and with free agency right around the corner, they could pivot to free agent Sergei Bobrovsky.
Whether it is Hellebuyck or Bobrovsky, the Sabres will have to trade a goalie on their NHL roster. The most likely candidate would be Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, but they could also trade Alex Lyon as an option if they are confident that Colten Ellis can be the backup moving forward.
In addition to the players on the NHL roster, the Sabres almost certainly will be trading prospect Devon Levi as well. The abundance of quality goaltenders should make them popular around the league, but one team that absolutely needs to pick up the phone is the New Jersey Devils.
The New Jersey Devils domino effect that could help the Buffalo Sabres
The Florida Panthers acquired Jacob Markstrom from the New Jersey Devils, which means Bobrovsky is not returning, but also that they are not going to pursue Connor Hellebuyck. For the Sabres, they won't have to compete with their division rival for either of those players.
However, they also now have a trade partner in the New Jersey Devils, as they need another goalie. Markstrom started 44 games for the Devils last season, and this leaves only Jake Allen on the roster with significant NHL experience. The other goalie on the roster is Nico Daws, who was a third-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft by the Devils.
It seems like the Sabres and Devils are a match to complete a trade with one of the Sabres' veteran goalies, either Luukkonen or Lyon, going to New Jersey as a perfect player to pair with Allen. However, the Sabres can't do anything until they have a clear upgrade at the position, and that would be either Hellebuyck or Bobrovsky.
In the end, one trade has seemingly helped the Buffalo Sabres get the goalie they ultimately want, with the Panthers no longer in the mix. However, it has also given the Sabres a trade partner in the New Jersey Devils to move the players they need to add the starter they want.
Add us as a preferred source on Google