Connor Hellebuyck trade opens the door for the Leafs to make a move of their own

Connor Hellebuyck's deal to New Jersey opened the door for a Maple Leafs trade as one team that was heavily in the mix still holds a key piece - Carolina.

In a stunner on Friday, the Winnipeg Jets traded disgruntled goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to the New Jersey Devils for a package that includes four players and two draft picks. It was a blockbuster to say the least, and it ends the Hellebuyck saga in Winnipeg once and for all.

But the Devils were a team who were seen as a dark horse candidate in the Hellebuyck sweepstakes and several others like Carolina, Buffalo, and Utah were all expected to be the frontrunners. They save on assets for sure, but losing out on Hellebuyck certainly stings.

Hellebuyck deal could lead straight into a Nikishin trade

However that blockbuster deal could lead to another blockbuster with Carolina certainly at the forefront of things, and trading with none other than the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Given what the Devils paid for Hellebuyck, you have to think that the Hurricanes were at least trying to dangle defenseman Alexander Nikishin in a potential deal, but may not have had the other capital to get the deal done.

If they aren't sold on the defender still, then they could certainly add him in a package to the Maple Leafs that may include the goaltending help they need. Carolina could trade Nikishin to Toronto for a package that includes Anthony Stolarz, which gives them a proven Cup winner as they try to repeat.

There are other pieces that need to be involved obviously, and the Hurricanes would more than likely be asking for a young piece such as Easton Cowan or Ben Danford in addition to Stolarz, but adding Nikishin does solve a lot of issues for Toronto.

Why Nikishin is the target Toronto needs on defense

A mobile, young, offensively-gifted defender is exactly what the Maple Leafs need, and with questions about if they even have enough blue line help to get through until Christmas - making a splash would immediately quash all concerns.

He posted 11 goals and 33 points last season in 81 games for the Hurricanes last year, but only had one point in the postseason. Disregarding his postseason play, he did win a Stanley Cup and is one of the more promising defenders coming into their prime.

But again, we run into the tagging rules put in place by the NHL so in addition to Stolarz and a prospect, the team will need to send money out to make things work - so add another name like Oliver Ekman-Larsson or Dakota Joshua into the mix.

That is a tough avenue to navigate but for a Maple Leafs team who desperately needs to get younger and faster on the blue line, it feels like no price is really too high to improve. John Chayka already dealt away Matthew Knies to stun everyone, and could very well double dip and shock the NHL again.

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Connor Hellebuyck has been traded