Connor Hellebuyck's public trade request could be Winnipeg's golden chance to ignite a bidding war and find the perfect rebuilding package.
Thursday came with the news that Connor Hellebuyck had formally submitted a trade request which would see the Winnipeg Jets agree to help find him a new deal, while both parties seem to mutually agree it may be time to part ways.
But in doing so it does bring to market one of the best goaltenders in the world, a former MVP, three-time Vezina winner as well as Olympic gold medalist.
Hellebuyck's willingness to waive his no-movement clause for several teams gives Winnipeg something most trade-request situations do not: enough potential destinations to create real competition.
Hellebuyck's broad trade flexibility gives Winnipeg leverage most teams lose
Though that may be exactly what Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff has in plan, because a dogfight for his prized goaltender could lead him to the exact package he's looking for.
He's also getting a lot of help from Hellebuyck himself, as though he controls his fate - he's willing to waive to several teams according to TSN's Chris Johnston:
One key difference with the Connor Hellebuyck trade request compared to others around the NHL is that he's willing to waive his NMC for a variety of teams.
The offers haven't been to Winnipeg's liking just yet, obviously, but they're not totally handcuffed.
That is a huge benefit to Cheveldayoff as he has more than a handful of teams he can field offers from as opposed to what we heard from Dylan Larkin and Morgan Rielly rumours - they only have a select few destinations.
It shows that instead of this being a case of a disgruntled player wanting out, it's instead a decision that Hellebuyck believes can benefit both him and the team.
Hellebuyck has publicly said he believes moving on is the best path forward for himself and his family but he's not going to suddenly throw Winnipeg under the bus and it's clear there is no animosity, he just wants what's best for both sides.
The Jets can wait for one desperate team to push the price higher
But given that Hellebuyck's price is already going to be exorbitant, the Jets have not only the benefit of their goalie's willingness to move to more places than typically expected but they also have time. There's no rush to trade Hellebuyck, and they can use desperation to their advantage.
Already you're looking at a package that involves top draft picks, an NHL-ready goaltender, prospects, or most likely a combination of the three. If you have teams with question marks about goaltending heading into the season - like Buffalo - then you can push that price into sheer blockbuster territory.
Plus, there's still training camp and the preseason so who knows what can happen.
A sudden injury can shift things for one team so drastically that they decide to part with their future in order to acquire Hellebuyck. The more realistic pressure points are teams that enter camp still unsure about their crease. If one of those clubs struggles early or loses a starter to injury, Winnipeg's leverage could rise quickly.
There isn't an urgency to trade Hellebuyck right away, though Winnipeg would like to get a deal done sooner than later though that deal may just not exist yet. Thankfully there's a better chance of it appearing because Hellebuyck's willingness to work with the Jets though atypical - is a huge benefit that few teams experience.
Which team do you think Connor Hellebuyck will end up with?
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