Jets’ Hellebuyck Linked to 2 Teams That Would See Starter Traded

The Winnipeg Jets know that trading Connor Hellebuyck has to be an option this offseason as there is one year left on his deal and moving him for assets will help the team out more in the long run than losing him for nothing in 2024. There will be quite a bit of goalie movement this offseason and Hellebuyck will be the most sought after, especially for teams looking to make a run at the Stanley Cup next season.

Frank Seravalli listed a number of teams, but the most intriguing are the Toronto Maple Leafs and New Jersey Devils who do have starters for next season. In terms of pedigree and what Hellebuyck would bring to both of them for a year, I can see why they could be interested. Toronto might have just one year left with their core four, if that, while the Devils are just gearing up and would like a proven goalie to lead them all the way.

Toronto Maple Leafs

The Maple Leafs goaltending situation is definitely one to watch. They used three goalies last season and Joseph Woll, their young up-and-comer, proved that he should be in consideration for the backup role next season. He was even the go-to after Ilya Samsonov was injured in the playoffs over Matt Murray, which brings us to him. If he wasn’t used when he was needed in the playoffs and will likely spend a lot of the year dealing with injuries, he’s no use to the Maple Leafs.

Related: Maple Leafs: 3 Free Agent Playoff Performers to Sign

Murray will be gone, but it’s Samsonov who will have to be a part of the return for Hellebuyck if Toronto heavily pursues the former Vezina Trophy winner. Samsonov is a RFA and without a contract at the moment. Coming off of a one-year, $1.8 million deal and going 27-10-5 with a .919 SV%, he is definitely in store for a raise. The Jets don’t want to rebuild, so I’m assuming they would surely take Samsonov and try to get a multi-year deal done. If the Maple Leafs want to gamble on one year and risk losing a talented young goaltender in Samsonov, then this is a possibility.

New Jersey Devils

The Devils didn’t get as good goaltending by their starter Vitek Vanecek, who just so happens to be the other goalie the Washington Capitals gave up on last offseason. The team save percentage was .908, but excluding Mackenzie Blackwood, who is going to be gone, it was .913 between Vanecek and Akira Schmid. Those two would be the tandem the Devils will likely go into next season with if they don’t get Hellebuyck. Those two have 141 starts combined in the NHL while Hellebuyck has 436.

In this case, Vanecek would be the one who would be headed the other way. The Devils see Schmid as their future in net and young goalies of his skill level aren’t easy to find. Vanecek proved he can start games and would be a good starting point for the Jets to retool around for cheap. It might be a game-changer for the Maple Leafs or Devils acquiring Hellebuyck, but nothing is set in stone if either of them do.