Hellebuyck

WPG laughs

Switch McCarthy for like Gritsyuk or Clarke

Isn't all the reporting that basically no one wants to pay a high price for Hellebuyck due to his age and next contract demands?

Haven't followed the rumors, but at a lower end; an average goalie, a late-1st, and a middling prospect should not be able to get one of the current best goalies in the league.

If this gets done it's Vanacek (only cause devils can't afford both contracts) and a second round pick and no prospect.

Which is why I don't think it gets done when it it's where the front office wants to go.

They aren't trading for Connor Hellebuyck. People aren't slaves. The devils don't get to own him. They are trading for the $6M expiring contract of Connor Hellebuyck. Who will be a UFA and then by all indication want a raise to $9M-$10M. A goalie.

With those aspirations, Hellebuyck is almost certainly going to want to test free agency a year from now. So the only benefit of the trade is one year of service at a price that pins the team to the cap and forces them to roll 22 players on the roster.

If this was like the penguins or capitals, trying to get one last year or so out of the face of the franchise for a decade, maybe they would be tempted for the overpay.

I say let someone else overpay or let Winnipeg be Calgary next year losing all it's good players in free agency. Either works out better for the devils.

If they want to do 50% retained for a not first pick and a prospect I would be more interested. But that won't let them keep their pride. And honestly, someone probably is going to pay too much.