Major trade involving star goalie Connor Hellebuyck was close, but ultimately fell through

The Connor Hellebuyck trade market cracked open this afternoon, and Buffalo walked away empty-handed.

Insider Marco D'Amico reported today that the Sabres got close on Hellebuyck but were told the ask from Winnipeg was too high.

D'Amico had previously noted that other teams kicked tires, including the Toronto Maple Leafs.

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That Buffalo pushed hard is not surprising. GM Jarmo Kekalainen runs a team that went 50-23-9 this season and finished fourth overall.

The Sabres allowed just 241 goals this year. Adding Hellebuyck would be a statement move, not a need move.

Winnipeg, meanwhile, finished 26th overall at 35-35-12. Kevin Cheveldayoff is not trading from a position of strength here.

What Cheveldayoff is actually asking for

The Jets allowed 260 goals this season, worst among the three teams involved in these talks. Hellebuyck's .895 save percentage came on a team that gave up 3.2 goals per game.

He's 33 years old, carries an $8.5-million cap hit, and posted 18 wins in 57 starts on a sinking ship. Whoever lands him better have a better team around him.

Toronto's involvement is harder to defend. The Leafs went 32-36-14, allowed 299 goals, and lost seven straight to end the season. That's not a crease problem, that's a structural one.

Adding a franchise goaltender to a team that gave up 3.6 goals per game is like putting a new engine in a car with no wheels. It just doesn't work.

So where does this go? Cheveldayoff clearly believes he has leverage, and he may be right.

Hellebuyck is one of maybe five goalies in the league you'd build around. The market for that tier is thin, and the Jets know it.

Buffalo will come back. The question is whether Kekalainen is willing to pay what it actually costs.

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