- The Devils and Jets are working on a Connor Hellebuyck trade
- Darren Dreger said talks escalated Friday and a deal could happen today
- Read below for how the suspension and the cap hit forced the issue
The Hellebuyck saga may finally be wrapping up, and the Devils look like the destination.
Elliotte Friedman reported Friday morning that New Jersey and Winnipeg are working on a Connor Hellebuyck deal. He kept it short and said to “see what develops,” so there are no terms yet.
Things moved quickly. Darren Dreger said earlier in the morning that talks were escalating, that a trade “could go down today,” and that a busy day was developing. Friedman followed about half an hour later with a message of his own:
The clock is the reason. Hellebuyck’s team-imposed suspension for skipping training camp ends Friday, which puts his $8.5 million cap hit back on Winnipeg’s books and forces the Jets to find him a roster spot.
He has forfeited more than $38,000 a day since the season started. By the time the suspension lifts, that adds up to north of $900,000 in lost salary.
Hellebuyck made his trade request public in late August. The Jets have spent weeks working through what a return would look like, and Friedman wrote last weekend that one option was paying him to stay home. Nobody wanted that.
A deal with Buffalo was once believed to be close, but it never got done. The Devils now look like the team with the inside track, and Friday could be the day it gets done.
