Connor Hellebuyck’s chances of landing with the Buffalo Sabres vanished after Winnipeg Jets executives refused to budge on draft-pick demands.
What went wrong in Buffalo?
The Sabres and Jets couldn’t finalize a deal because Buffalo only offered the fourth overall pick in exchange for Hellebuyck — and the Jets wanted two top-10 selections. Elliotte Friedman, the Sportsnet analyst, spelled out the impasse on his 32 Thoughts podcast on 10 July: “Buffalo was like, ‘No, if we’re giving you the fourth overall pick, we have to get the eighth overall pick back.’ I think Winnipeg wanted both of those picks, and that’s why it didn’t happen.”
Why Hellebuyck matters to the Sabres
The Sabres already have depth in net, but Hellebuyck would have vaulted them into the upper tier of goalies in the NHL. Without him, Buffalo’s crease remains a question mark heading into training camp. The Jets, meanwhile, keep a franchise cornerstone who has been their No. 1 since 2015, even if his contract expires after 2026-27.
What happens now?
With the draft over, swapping future first-rounders becomes trickier. Friedman noted that teams can still swap active contracts, but those deals carry their own complications — cap hits, no-movement clauses, and the like. Hellebuyck hasn’t filed a public trade request, yet the longer talks stall, the louder the speculation grows. If Winnipeg can’t land the return they want, Buffalo may yet circle back once the Jets blink.
The bigger picture in net
Hellebuyck’s name keeps popping up in trade chatter because elite goaltending is the fastest way to change a franchise’s fortunes. The Sabres chased that edge, only to walk away when the price tag doubled. Now both sides must decide whether the fit was ever real — or if Hellebuyck will finish his career in Winnipeg.