2 Contenders Named As 'Least Likely Destinations' For Hellebuyck Trade

When it comes time for star NHL players to seek a trade, the ones with no-move clauses have a say in where they'll be headed. And almost every time, two of the teams on a player's approved list will be the Florida Panthers and the Vegas Golden Knights. 

But in the ongoing Connor Hellebuyck case, we're likely going to be looking elsewhere.

 

Lyle Richardson of The Hockey News writes that, from what we've learned from the Dylan Larkin trade request, Florida and Vegas are among the least-likely destinations for Helly. 

If those clubs can’t afford to acquire Larkin ($8.7 million AAV), they can’t afford Hellebuyck, and even if they could, they lack the tradeable assets to entice the Jets, unless they can somehow get a third team involved in the deal to send them the necessary assets to make it happen.

Hellebuyck carries an $8.5 million AAV for five more years. The Panthers have zero cap space available at this point (well, $34,286 to be exact), while Vegas is far worse off, at $8.6 million ABOVE the cap, per PuckPedia.

It should be noted, however, that both those teams would probably move heaven and earth to try to secure the world's best goalie; Florida bid adieu to their own two-time Stanley Cup winner, Sergei Bobrovsky, this offseason, and the Golden Knights did not get Cup-winning netminding from Carter Hart in this year's Finals. 

Hellebuyck willing to waive NMC for a number of destinations

Hellebuyck, from all accounts, will not be anywhere near as limiting as Larkin when it comes to potential destinations, as he's apparently willing to waive his full no-move clause for a wide range of teams. 

And there certainly are a whack of other teams already seen as being in serious pursuit, including the defending Stanley Cup champs, the Carolina Hurricanes, plus an Atlantic Division upstart, the Buffalo Sabres, along with several others. 

With three Vezina Trophies and a Hart Trophy already on his mantlepiece, Hellebuyck further cemented his legacy this past year, backstopping Team USA to the heart-stopping overtime Gold Medal victory over Team Canada at the Winter Olympics in February. In 11 career NHL seasons, he has a .916 save percentage.