Connor Hellebuyck and the Winnipeg Jets could be headed toward a trade decision that skips right past the usual suspects.
Star players with no-move protection almost always list Florida and Vegas among their approved destinations. This time, it looks different.
The Dylan Larkin situation already exposed the problem. If Florida and Vegas can't afford Larkin's $8,700,000 cap hit, they definitely can't afford Hellebuyck.
Hellebuyck carries an $8,500,000 cap hit for five more seasons, and the math gets worse from there for both clubs.
Florida reportedly has just $34,286 in cap space available right now, while Vegas sits roughly $8,600,000 over the cap entirely.
Both clubs would probably still want him. Florida lost Sergei Bobrovsky this offseason, and Vegas didn't get championship-level goaltending from Carter Hart in this year's Final.
Neither situation works without a third team getting involved to help make the money and assets fit.
Why Carolina and Buffalo actually make more sense here
Unlike Larkin, Hellebuyck is reportedly willing to waive his full no-move clause for a wide range of teams, not a short list of favorites.
That opens the door to real pursuers like Carolina and Buffalo, teams with legitimate cap room and legitimate reasons to chase an upgrade in net.
Carolina finished 53-22-7 as the defending Stanley Cup champions, and its current goaltending group tops out at a $2,000,000 cap hit.
Buffalo went 50-23-9 as an Atlantic Division team on the rise, with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen currently anchoring the crease at $4,750,000.
Hellebuyck's resume speaks for itself: three Vezina Trophies, a Hart Trophy, and an overtime gold medal win for Team USA at the Winter Olympics in February.
Over 11 NHL seasons, he's posted a .916 save percentage, exactly the kind of proven track record that makes contenders willing to pay up.
If this trade actually happens, it's going to a real contender chasing a Cup, not a rebuild story like the one Winnipeg fans have been floating all summer.
Would Connor Hellebuyck be a better fit in Carolina or Buffalo?
Also read on Markerzone.com:
Edmonton Oilers just got linked to a new name who could create a fierce roster battle
