NHLTR Mock Trade: Jets' Connor Hellebuyck to the Buffalo Sabres
Today's transaction is one between teams from different conferences heading in opposite directions. The Winnipeg Jets are expected to pursue rebuilding this offseason to see how many assets they may be able to acquire and stockpile. Meanwhile, the Buffalo Sabres are getting closer to contending for a Stanley Cup Playoff spot and captain Kyle Okposo recently mentioned the team is going to have to live with the lofty expectations on their shoulders next season. Here's today's NHLTR mock trade:
Jets trade Connor Hellebuyck to the Sabres for 2023 first-round pick (13th overall), RW Jack Quinn, G Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and prospect D Vsevolod Komarov.
Jets Perspective: Winnipeg is flirting with the possibility of a rebuild this summer and Hellebuyck has made it loud and clear he has no intentions of sticking around if that's the case. The Jets would receive a top-15 pick in the draft, a can't-miss prospect in Quinn, a goalie they can plug-and-play in UPL and Komarov gives them a young defensive prospect to try and development over the course of the next three seasons.
Sabres Perspective: The Sabres have zero interest in trading Devon Levi this summer and adding Hellebuyck gives them a world-class netminder and someone who can mentor Levi for the future. Hellebuyck would land a three-year contract extension in Buffalo and give the Sabres one of the more intriguing goalie tandems in the league. Losing Quinn hurts but they have a handful of other young forwards to build around including Tage Thompson and Dylan Cozens. Hellebuyck could easily propel Buffalo to a top-six team in the East.
Thoughts on our latest mock trade?
Photo credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
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