Connor Hellebuyck's trade market just lost a real contender in the Florida Panthers.
Elliotte Friedman broke down the specific problem on NHL Tonight, and it traces back to a completely different trade.
"One of the challenges is that part of Florida's package, not all, was what they traded to get Brady Tkachuk," Friedman said.
"So does Florida have anything that still makes sense," he added.
That's the blunt version of it. Florida simply doesn't have the same assets left after landing Tkachuk this summer.
And now there's real confirmation the talks actually fell apart. Florida went out and acquired goaltenders Jacob Markstrom and Akira Schmid after Hellebuyck talks failed.
Signing two replacement goaltenders right after talks collapse isn't a team keeping its options open. It's a team moving on for good.
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Florida's Brady Tkachuk trade may have cost them Connor Hellebuyck
Florida had been previously reported as one of the more aggressive suitors in this entire situation, even described as "hot" for Hellebuyck earlier this month.
Markstrom, 36, carries a $6,000,000 cap hit and posted a .883 save percentage across 44 games last season.
Schmid brings a much cheaper $875,000 cap hit, with a stronger .893 save percentage over 34 games of his own.
Together they give Florida a workable tandem without ever needing to give up more assets from an already thinned-out cupboard.
It's the hockey equivalent of maxing out a credit card on one big purchase, then having to shop clearance racks for everything after.
Is spending big on Tkachuk this summer already looking like it cost Florida a shot at an even bigger name in net?
Trading heavily for one star often means having less left over for the next opportunity that comes along, no matter how good the fit looks on paper.
My take: this is the risk every team accepts when it goes all in on one blockbuster. You can't spend the same assets twice in one summer.
Hellebuyck's market just got a little smaller. Whoever ends up with him now has one fewer contender to negotiate against before camp opens.
Source : TheHockeyNews
Did the Panthers make the right call walking away from Connor Hellebuyck?
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