On Thursday’s The Athletic Hockey Show, Michael Russo said that the New Jersey Devils, alongside the Buffalo Sabres, are unwilling to pay the Winnipeg Jets the massive cost they were looking for in a potential Connor Hellebuyck trade. We’ve heard the rumors and connected the dots, but this seems like the first real confirmation.
This news should come as no surprise to Devils fans. Through the first week of September, incumbent starter Vitek Vanecek and playoff starter Akira Schmid remain on the team’s roster. New Jersey has less than $2 million in cap space available, and Hellebuyck has a cap hit of $6.166 million on an expiring contract. It would take a deal of massive proportions for the Devils to accrue an additional ~$4 million in cap space to make this happen.
Further complicating things is the fact that, as is much discussed, Hellebuyck is a pending unrestricted free agent. Without an accompanying extension, the Vezina-winning goalie would be free to hit the open market in 2024, regardless of any trade that takes place.
Devils appear set for 2023 in net, at least for now.
Regarding potential trades or signings, things have been quiet for the Devils for some time now. Their most recent move was signing Cal Foote, older brother of Nolan, to a one-year contract at the beginning of August. Perhaps more concerning is the fact that, with training camp just a few weeks away, head coach Lindy Ruff remains without a new contract. Associate coach Travis Green has five years of head coaching experience at the NHL level, but that can’t be their plan, right?
At this point, it is probably a foregone conclusion that Ruff receives and signs a new contract for the new season, at the bare minimum. Closer to training camp, things should start to ramp up as the Devils have surprisingly not signed anyone to a professional tryout yet. At least we can rule out any irrational trades for Hellebuyck, in the meantime.