The New Jersey Devils have been tied to Connor Hellebuyck for well over a year now. Things hit the nuclear option when the superstar goalie proclaimed he wanted nothing to do with a rebuild. That obviously got everyone tying him to actual contenders. The Devils, along with the Los Angeles Kings, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Ottawa Senators, were some of the teams immediately considered options to trade for Hellebuyck. However, the Devils always seemed like the frontrunners.
Then, Hellebuyck’s reported contract demands came out. On Monday, we learned those demands were pretty spot on.
HERE TO STAY 😤
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) October 9, 2023
Mark Scheifele and Connor Hellebuyck have signed identical seven-year contract extensions with an average annual value of $8,500,000. pic.twitter.com/vINkMjXh9b
Seven years and $8.5 million per season for a goal that will be 31-years-old is hard to swallow. It might be easy for a team like the Winnipeg Jets that seems to be at the end of their current competition window (at least when it comes to winning a possible Stanley Cup). For a team like the Devils, where most of its stars are 25 and under, going all in on a goalie over the age of 30 could be a death knell to their contention if injuries ruin their career.
Right now, the Devils currently have about $1.67 million in cap space, according to Cap Friendly. Certain moves, recalls from Utica, players coming off IR, and even current roster moves could change that. Either way, it’s not a ton. So, even making a move for Connor Hellebuyck right now would be complicated, and he’s only making $6 million this season.
Looking ahead, that’s where it gets really complicated. The Devils are paying Jack Hughes $8 million per season, Dougie Hamilton $9 million, Nico Hischier $7.25 million, Timo Meier $8.8 million, Jesper Bratt $7.875 million, and Ondrej Palat $6 million. That right there is close to $47 million per season through at least 2027. Add in deals needed for Dawson Mercer, Luke Hughes, and Akira Schmid in the future, and the cap, even if it grows, gets tight very quickly.
Just next year, the Devils have $66.7 million already locked in. That leaves about $20 million to play with, but immediately giving Hellebuyck almost half of that while still having to sign Mercer, Tyler Toffoli, Schmid, and Michael McLeod feels like a huge mistake.
The Devils are in an enviable position. The goalies looked really good this preseason, so a panic move for Hellebuyck wasn’t necessary. Now, he’s happy, and the Jets fans are happy. Devils fans can shift their focus to another goalie or just enjoy the ones we have on the roster. Schmid might be the guy. Let’s just hope for that. It’s a much cheaper option.