New Jersey Devils interested in Connor Hellebuyck

As the National Hockey League enters the off-season, it’s only natural that rumors and speculation are in full swing.

Indeed, it’s usually in this period between the Stanley Cup Final and the draft that NHL teams are most in the thick of the action, making big changes or simple adjustments to their rosters in preparation for the 2023-2024 season.

This year, if there’s one team that comes up in virtually every trade rumor, it’s the Winnipeg Jets.

The Jets currently find themselves in a rather heavy and deplorable situation.

Several of their key players have only one year left on their contract, and they’re not interested in signing a contract extension in Winnipeg.

This puts the Jets in a situation where they’ll have to part with these players this summer, if they don’t want to lose them for nothing next summer.

It’s a position similar to that of the Calgary Flames with Matthew Tkachuk last summer.

In the Jets’ case, the two names that come up the most are forward Pierre-Luc Dubois (obviously) and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.

In Hellebuyck’s case, we knowhe won’t re-sign with the Jets when his contract expires in a year’s time, which makes him very attractive to other NHL teams this summer.

According to recent rumours, one of these teams is the New Jersey Devils.

According to insider Pierre LeBrun, the Devils are a real option in the Connor Hellebuyck file.

LeBrun adds that, of course, the Devils are not alone in the race, given that it’s not every day that a top-notch goaltender of Hellebuyck’s calibre, at the age of 30 (and therefore in the prime of his career), is available on the trade market.

He explains that the Devils (Martin Brodeur’s club) would very much like to get their hands on Hellebuyck to solidify their talented young team, which has a bright future ahead of it.

However, it’s Hellebuyck’s alleged salary demands that are holding the Devils back at the moment.

Hellebuyck would like to sign a long-term contract worth around $9-9.5 million a year, like Andrei Vasilevskiy.

That’s a lot of money, and that’s what would make the Devils a little hesitant, as they undoubtedly have what it takes to make the Jets a nice offer.

In short, this is an issue to be followed very closely, as several teams are very interested in acquiring the 30-year-old American goaltender.

In a gust

– Another big file to keep an eye on.

– He could be available at #31 for the Panthers’ CH-owned pick.

– Read more.

– Ekman-Larsson with the Bruins?

– A great story, that of Montreal CF goaltender Jonathan Sirois.