Around the NHL: 4 trade targets for Rangers’ Shesterkin replacement, Hellebuyck may return to Winnipeg

Welcome back to a Canadian Thanksgiving edition of around the NHL. There’s been a ton of storylines to follow throughout the first few weeks of the season, and the holiday weekend provided us with a variety hockey fixings.

From season-ending injuries, to potential three-way trades, to free-agent forwards who are still without contracts, there’s been plenty of follow throughout the league. Looking around the standings, the Edmonton Oilers are the only team who haven’t lost in regulation. Mike Babcock has the Oilers playing fast, and aggressive, and goaltender Devon Levi may have finally find a home.

You can add the Oilers to the Utah Mammoth, Tampa Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes, Vegas Golden Knights, and Minnesota Wild, who are all off to strong starts. The biggest surprise may be the Winnipeg Jets entering the new week at 3-1-1, with goaltender Stuart Skinner leading the way.

Rangers have trade targets to replace Shesterkin

The Rangers lost Shesterkin to a lower-body, season-ending injury on Friday night, and now Drury needs to sort out who the team could potentially bring in to replace the Russian netminder. The good news for Drury is there’s a wide variety of options, who are pending unrestricted free agents.

Jordan Binnington, St. Louis Blues: Binnington is now second fiddle to Joel Hofer in St. Louis, and has just this season left on his contract at $6 million AAV, and owns a 10-team no-trade clause. Playing under the bright lights of Broadway would be something Binnington would be open to. The veteran goaltender owns a 1-1-0 record to start the year, along with a .847 save percentage. Small sample size, but we’ll see if Drury circles in on Binnington, as he’s one of the only goaltenders available who could handle the pressure of Stanley Cup Playoff hockey in New York.

John Gibson, Detroit Red Wings: Speaking of veteran goalies on the last year of their contract, the Red Wings have John Gibson who they could dangle to the Rangers. Detroit’s a mess, they have Dylan Larkin on the trade market, defenceman Simon Edvinsson is at home waiting for a contract or a trade. Moving Gibson could give the Rangers their one-season replacement, and like Binnington, Gibson owns a 10-team no-trade clause, but it also feels like he wouldn’t have the Rangers on his list. The Red Wings need to completely tear down the roster, so this could be a decent way to start for interim GM Shawn Horcoff.

Samuel Montembeault, Montreal Canadiens: Montembeault is also a pending free agent, he’s currently on the shelve injured for another week, but considering Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler can easily handle the crease in Montreal, Montembeault is a prime trade chip. He’s owed just over $3 million this season, and doesn’t have any trade protection. The Canadiens front office knows the Rangers system better than anyone, so this could be a 1-for-1 trade for a player they’re familiar with.

Darcy Kuemper, Los Angeles Kings: Again, Drury has a ton of options if he just wants a short-term fix, as Kuemper is another veteran who has just this season left on his contract. The Kings are off to a terrible start, and don’t look to be a playoff team this season, so Kuemper could make way to New York to help push for starts. The likelihood of a Rangers trade will certainly depend on the play of current starter Dylan Garand.

Connor Hellebuyck may return to Winnipeg

Over the weekend there was a ton of speculation about Connor Hellebuyck’s future as a Jet, as the former Vezina winner is currently at home skating on his own, suspended from the team, and losing a ton of money in the process.

According to The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta, there’s been some chatter about Hellebuyck returning to action for the Jets, while he waits for a trade to sort it self out. “You’re starting to hear some conversations of maybe Connor Hellebuyck starting to think about rejoining the [Jets] while…wanting a trade, while simultaneously hearing that the guys in room aren’t really gonna welcome him with open arms,” stated Pagnotta on Hello Hockey.

Kyle Connor and Adam Lowry have been very vocal that they wouldn’t necessarily welcome back Hellebuyck with open arms just based on the fact he turned his back on the franchise, and walked away from his teammates. It’s certainly a sticky situation that could be getting even more awkward if Hellebuyck does return to the ice in Winnipeg, as a Jet.

While many have swatted down the notion of Hellebuyck being dealt to New York to replace Shesterkin for this season, one scenario to monitor is a three-way trade between the Rangers, Jets, and Buffalo Sabres. The Jets haven’t been able to trade Hellebuyck to Buffalo, likely due to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s no-trade clause blocking the move to Winnipeg, but what about if he went to the Rangers instead in a three-way move, and Hellebuyck can then secure the vacant starter’s spot for the Sabres?

Quick hits around the NHLThe Philadelphia Flyers set a franchise record with their seventh straight loss to start the season. Head coach Rick Tocchet may quickly be on the hot seat.Along the same lines, the Calgary Flames have started 0-5-0 for the first time in franchise history.The Nashville Predators are a team to watch on the trade market, as GM Chris MacFarland has made it clear to some of his veterans, if the team isn’t contending for a playoff spot, changes are coming. MacFarland has made 10 trades since taking over in June. If or when the Predators sell, Ryan O’Reilly or Steven Stamkos make a ton of sense for the Montreal Canadiens.The Flames and Canucks have discussed a Connor Zary trade, according to Sportnet’s Elliotte Friedman.Friedman also pointed out recently the Oilers and Flames are monitoring Kirby Dach in Montreal, who is a pending free agent.Connor Bedard is expected to return to action this week for the Blackhawks.Dylan Larkin still wants out of Detroit, and the Minnesota Wild and Boston Bruins are certainly two teams to keep an eye on.Free-agent Vladimir Tarasenko continues to be linked to the Florida Panthers, while Patrik Laine remains unsigned, and a potential target of the Flames and Los Angeles Kings.PRESENTED BY DFO TORONTO GEARTORONTO HOCKEY FANS, YOUR NEW GEAR HAS ARRIVED.
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