Connor Hellebuyck's trade market is drying up fast, and the Winnipeg Jets are the ones left holding the bag.
Frank Seravalli said on the FAN Morning Show Tuesday that Winnipeg had real trade conversations on Hellebuyck back in late June.
The Sabres were in on it. So were the Panthers and the Hurricanes.
Seravalli said the sides got relatively close on a few of those discussions before the draft came and went.
None of it closed. And according to NHL Rumour Report, the quality offers that existed have mostly evaporated since June.
The market on Hellebuyck cooled off faster than a Winnipeg parking lot in January.
That leaves Kevin Cheveldayoff sitting on an $8,500,000 goaltender with a shrinking market and a fanbase running out of patience.
Hellebuyck posted a .895 save percentage across 57 appearances last season, with 18 wins to his name.
The Jets finished 35-35-12, good for 82 points and a minus-29 goal differential.
Cheveldayoff's asking price scared off contenders
Nobody in Winnipeg is saying that part out loud. But three known suitors walking away from talks that got "relatively close" tells its own story.
Scott Arniel now inherits a goaltending picture that looks a lot murkier than it did back in June.
Stuart Skinner factors into that equation too, posting an .888 save percentage over 50 appearances of his own last season.
Is Winnipeg actually prepared to run it back with both goaltenders instead of moving its franchise starter? That question just got louder.
The Jets closed last season on a four-game skid, capped by a 1-6 loss to the Sharks.
Moving a $8,500,000 goaltender at 33 was never going to be simple. Doing it with three suitors gone quiet makes it a lot heavier.
Cheveldayoff still has a decision to make on his starter. The market just told him it isn't in a hurry to help.
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Should the Jets trade Connor Hellebuyck this off-season even at a discount?
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