The latest on Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli, and Kraken center Shane Wright in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE ATHLETIC: Murat Ates and Matthew Fairburn recently examined what a hypothetical trade sending goaltender Connor Hellebuyck from the Winnipeg Jets to the Buffalo Sabres would look like.
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (NHL Images).
Hellebuyck, 33, was linked to the Sabres before last month’s NHL Draft weekend. The two clubs were reportedly close to a deal, but the Jets refused to part with the eighth overall pick.
Ates and Fairburn believe the Jets would covet a Sabres forward such as Josh Doan or Zach Benson. However, they speculate that a return of forward Ryan McLeod and a “substantial secondary piece” could be viewed as a success for the Jets.
The Sabres would likely prefer parting with futures such as draft picks and prospects. Their selection of defenseman Daxon Rudolph could make them more willing to part with prospect blueliner Radim Mrtka. They could also part with their 2027 first-round pick.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It remains to be seen if the Jets and Sabres can work out a deal involving Hellebuyck. Nothing seems imminent, but we have seen significant trades occur during training camp or preseason in September.
Hellebuyck has five years left on his contract, so the Jets aren’t in a hurry to trade him. They can take their time and wait for the right offer. It also buys them time for Hellebuyck and his teammates to bounce back this season, reducing any pressure to move him.
THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline looked at how the new contracts for Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson (five years, $18 million average annual value) and Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (five years, $15 million AAV) could affect the Columbus Blue Jackets’ efforts to re-sign center Adam Fantilli.
Like Carlsson and Bedard, the 21-year-old Fantilli is a restricted free agent coming off his entry-level contract. As much as Carlsson’s new deal seemed to blow up the market for young RFAs, Portzline suggested Bedard’s contract might tilt it back the other way. It could also set the parameters for Fantilli’s new deal.
Portzline cited a league source, who said an eight-year contract is unlikely to be Fantilli’s new term. It’s more likely that he’ll give a five-year term like Carlsson and Bedard.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Going for the shorter term could become a trend for good young RFA players. It doesn’t lock them into a deal for too long, enabling them to negotiate for a more lucrative contract sooner.
As for what Fantilli receives for an AAV, it could be between $12 million and $13 million, unless a rival club pushes it higher with an offer sheet. It was assumed Fantilli would be the Philadelphia Flyers’ alternate target when the Ducks matched their offer sheet for Carlsson, but they were reportedly only interested in Carlsson.
THE SCORE: cited The Athletic’s Josh Yohe, who reports the Pittsburgh Penguins are intrigued by the idea of trading for Seattle Kraken center Shane Wright.
Wright, 22, has reportedly been on the block since the March trade deadline. Yohe also noted that former Kraken general manager Ron Francis has returned to the Penguins’ organization, and he knows Wright well.
Yohe noted that the Kraken have set a high asking price for Wright, which could put him outside the Penguins’ comfort zone.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kraken are reportedly working with Wright’s agent to find a suitable trade destination. However, they won’t be pressured into accepting a lower return. This could carry over into the regular season.