Buffalo Sabres
· 2026-06-29
The Buffalo Sabres made a bold move to acquire Connor Hellebuyck from the Winnipeg Jets, offering the 4th overall pick, starting goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, and more, but the Jets ultimately declined.
The proposed trade would have sent the 4th overall pick, Luukkonen, and a player believed to be Jack Quinn to the Jets in exchange for Hellebuyck.
The Sabres, currently 2nd in the Eastern Conference with a 50-23 record, were looking to bolster their lineup after a loss to the Montreal Canadiens on May 18.
Hellebuyck's elite goaltending skills would have been a significant addition to the Sabres' roster, but the Jets were hesitant to part with their star player.
The 33-year-old Michigan native has been the backbone of the Jets' success in recent years, and replacing him with Luukkonen would have been a gamble.
The Sabres will need to regroup and explore other options to improve their team, while the Jets will look to build on their current roster with Hellebuyck leading the way.
And with the 2026 NHL Draft approaching, the Sabres will have to decide how to use their draft picks to strengthen their lineup.
But for now, the focus is on the upcoming season and how the Sabres can improve on their 50-23 record.
So the Sabres will look to other trades or signings to bolster their roster, with the goal of making a deep playoff run.
The Sabres' last result, a 2-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on May 18, is still fresh in their minds, and they will look to bounce back from that loss.