Connor Hellebuyck to the Buffalo Sabres: The huge return Jets are asking for is now known

Connor Hellebuyck trade talk just got a real price tag, and Buffalo is reportedly the team willing to pay it.

A new report says Hellebuyck is willing to join the Sabres, but Winnipeg's asking price includes Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, a second-line forward, and a top prospect.

Hellebuyck posted 18 wins in 57 games this season with a .895 save percentage, numbers that still justify a premium return even in an off year.

Luukkonen, Buffalo's current starter, posted 20 wins in 35 games this season with a .908 save percentage, arguably better raw numbers than Hellebuyck put up.

Buffalo closed the year 50-23-9 for 109 points, fourth overall, exactly the kind of team built to gamble on a true number one in net.

The post breaks the ask down piece by piece, and it reads like exactly the kind of price a rebuilding franchise sets for its cornerstone asset.

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Is trading Luukkonen for Hellebuyck worth it for Buffalo

Giving up Luukkonen alone is a real swing, since he's outperforming Hellebuyck's raw save percentage on a fraction of the cap hit.

Luukkonen carries a $4,750,000 cap number, well below Hellebuyck's $8,500,000, meaning Buffalo would be paying more in both assets and dollars combined.

Adding a second-line forward and a top prospect on top turns this into one of the steepest asks of the summer for any goaltender available.

Hellebuyck is 33 years old, and locking term into a goalie that age is a real risk no matter how strong last season's underlying numbers were.

Handing over that much for one goaltender, even one of Hellebuyck's caliber, is the kind of bet that defines a GM's tenure either way.

Winnipeg hasn't confirmed accepting anything close to this. For now, the price is just the price, and Buffalo has to decide if it's worth paying.

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