How the Oilers could actually pull off a Connor Hellebuyck trade
It should be priority number one on Stan Bowman’s list.
Connor Hellebuyck, the NHL’s 2025 Hart Trophy winner, has let the public know that he wants out of Winnipeg.
After Quinn Hughes and Brady Tkachuk ditched their Canadian teams for the States, many assume that Hellebuyck will follow suit.
But what if, more than anything, he just wants to win?
There was some surprise when Hellebuyck re-upped with the Jets back in 2023, when he was one year away from choosing his next team in free agency.
Maybe Hellebuyck is built differently than Hughes and Tkachuk.
The Oilers could give Hellebuyck one of his best shots at winning that elusive Stanley Cup. Of course, the Oilers are short on assets and tight on cap space.
So, how could they actually make this happen?
It would have to start with the team shedding some salary, as the Oilers have $1.93 million in cap space, according to PuckPedia.
Tristan Jarry is the obvious candidate, with two years left on his contract worth $5.375 million per season.
The Oilers would assuredly have to attach an asset to shed Jarry’s contract. (Sergei Belski/Imagn Images)
Bowman would have to swallow his pride, but the Jarry acquisition has been a total disaster. At this point, he would have to pay to get off his contract.
But freeing up $5.375 million for a potential Hellebuyck deal is worth the price.
Could getting rid of Jarry cost a second-round pick? Potentially, but maybe the Oilers could lessen the blow of a draft pick sweetener if they deal a prospect goaltender with him, like Connor Ungar or Samuel Jonsson. Teams like the Ottawa Senators and Columbus Blue Jackets have current needs for a backup goalie.
If the Oilers can offload Jarry’s contract, that would leave them with $7.3 million in cap space, just $1.2 million shy of adding Hellebuyck’s salary.
Trading Jarry alone wouldn’t allow the Oilers to clear enough cap space, so who else could they jettison?
Dealing Trent Frederic is probably a pipe dream, as he has seven years left at $3.85 million per season on his contract.
Trading Kasperi Kapanen would be tough to swallow after his productive 2025 postseason, but he could recoup a pick while clearing his $2.6 million cap hit. He also has no trade protection.
The Oilers have five depth players: Shakir Mukhamadullin, Spencer Stastney, Mattias Janmark, Ty Emberson and Colton Dach all making between $1.2 million and $1.75 million. Trading one or two of them for late-round picks would be the easiest path to clear additional cap space.
Although the cap situation seems dire, the Oilers aren’t completely hamstrung in making a Hellebuyck trade happen.
So, what could they actually give up?
The Oilers don’t have a first in 2027 thanks to the Jason Dickinson trade. (Walter Tychnowicz/Imagn Images)
Their prospect pool is one of the league’s worst, and they already don’t have a first-round pick in 2027 (dealt in the Jason Dickinson trade).
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t picks to deal.
The NHL CBA stipulates that teams can deal draft picks seven years out, meaning Edmonton can trade picks that are as late as 2033.
And, isn’t the goal in Edmonton to keep McDavid and win a Stanley Cup?
If the Oilers are serious about Hellebuyck, and they should be, a package could look something like two first-round picks, Matt Savoie and Davon Levi.
It’s a steep price, but we’re talking about one of the best goaltenders in the NHL. The perennial missing piece in Edmonton’s Cup equation.
The odds are stacked against Edmonton pulling this off. But if Bowman wants to salvage his legacy and help the Oilers reach the promised land, acquiring Hellebuyck should be priority number one.