Oilers Would Be Foolish to Trade for Connor Hellebuyck

Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets has been suspended for failing to report to training camp. The 33-year-old goalie recently went public with a trade request and is demonstrating his commitment by not participating in team activities.

Any NHL team would welcome Hellebuyck, widely considered the world's top goalie. However, despite his strong reputation, reports indicate the Jets are not receiving the offers they anticipated.

This situation is partly due to teams knowing others are desperate after Hellebuyck's public trade request. Additionally, teams are generally reluctant to give up significant assets for goaltenders. This reality makes it difficult for Jets fans, who will likely not receive fair value when a deal eventually happens. With the regular season weeks away, many teams are too close to their salary cap limits to accommodate Hellebuyck's $8.5 million cap hit.

The Edmonton Oilers have been mentioned as a potential suitor. This connection is understandable, as Connor McDavid and the Oilers have been Stanley Cup contenders for years but have lacked a consistent No. 1 goalie. While Hellebuyck would solve that issue, acquiring him would be an error by Oilers management.

Oilers Would Face Another Roster Weakness

The primary obstacle for the Oilers in trading for Hellebuyck is managing the cap situation. After signing Alex Formenton to a one-year, $850,000 deal, General Manager Stan Bowman has just over $1 million in cap space.

To acquire Hellebuyck, the Oilers would need to significantly reduce their payroll. Players like Tristan Jarry and Trent Frederic might be considered, but their contracts would likely not interest the Jets.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins' name has also been brought up, but it's highly unlikely he would be part of such a trade. Nugent-Hopkins has spent his entire 1,031-game career with Edmonton and has a full no-movement clause. It’s hard to imagine him waiving it to leave a Stanley Cup contender for a team on the playoff bubble.

Other high-salary players for the Oilers include McDavid, Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, Evan Bouchard, and Jake Walman. McDavid, Draisaitl, and Walman all have full no-movement clauses, while Hyman has a 10-team trade list. Bouchard is the only player without any trade protection, but trading him for Hellebuyck would be unwise, merely shifting one problem to another.

Goaltending Is Already Addressed

Furthermore, management is likely not inclined to alter their goaltending strategy at this time. Bowman addressed this area during the offseason, first acquiring Devon Levi from the Buffalo Sabres and then signing Frederik Andersen to a one-year contract. They also retain Jarry, whom Bowman acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins last season.

While none of these three goalies match Hellebuyck's caliber, they are considerably more affordable, which is crucial for a contender like the Oilers. The team made significant efforts to improve their goaltending situation and should observe how it unfolds.

Despite the appeal of landing a true No. 1 goalie like Hellebuyck, it is not feasible for the Oilers currently. They lack the cap flexibility and the necessary tradeable assets to acquire him from the Jets.