NHL Rumors: Devils Remain Interested In Adding Connor Hellebuyck

The New Jersey Devils continued to be linked to Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.

Ever since the Devils lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, where their goaltending got exposed, you knew general manager Tom Fitzgerald was going to upgrade that position.

Things started to fall in place for the Devils when Hellebuyck told the Winnipeg Jets he was not going to sign an extension and be a part of a rebuild. Thus Connor Hellebuyck became a name the Devils started calling on and being linked to. He would be a perfect fit for the Devils as they have been looking for a true number-one goaltender.

A new report by TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun has confirmed the earlier Full Press Hockey reports of the Jets goaltender eyeing the Devils as a possible destination to sign a long-term extension.

“New Jersey is one of the teams that we understand Conner Hellebuyck would be interested in signing an extension within a sign-and-trade,” LeBrun said during his Insider Trading segment on Tuesday. 

“Now, they’re not the only team, of course, and listen, New Jersey has investigated it. But they’ve had a conversation with Winnipeg.”

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The question will be for the Devils like most teams what Hellebuyck’s next contract looks like. Hellebuyck’s current salary cap hit is $6.2 million. The belief is Hellebuyck is looking for Andrei Vasilevskiy money. Vasilevskiy has a salary cap hit of $9.5 million. That is a steep price for contending teams to pay.

“Hellebuyck would want an extension,” LeBrun added. “We believe that to be in the Andrei Vasilevskiy range: $9.5 million a year. And you know, we get why he is asking for it. Perhaps he’s a Vezina Trophy finalist, but I think for the Devils, does that work in their cap? So I think that price would have to come down, I think, for New Jersey to get more involved in this.”

As we have seen the Devils want to keep things inside a salary hierarchy. Where Hellebuyck falls into that is unknown at this time. You have to think with Hellebuyck’s age (30) and him going on 31 years old, the Devils will want to give him a three to four-year deal. In terms of salary, the Devils will hope to get in him in the $7-$8 million range.

Of course, the Devils have Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid already on the roster. And while Fitzgerald liked his goaltending this season, he understands the playoffs are a different animal. Schmid played great against the Rangers replacing Vancek, but both goalies struggled in Round 2.

Let’s not forget about Mackenzie Blackwood. He is the third goalie in this current carousel with the Devils. However, as documented here on Full Press Hockey his days with the team are numbered. The interesting case will be whether is Blackwood part of this package or if is it Vanecek because the Jets will want current NHL players in return.

If the Devils do land Hellebuyck, they land a Vezina Trophy goaltender. Something this team has not seen since the days of Martin Brodeur. Hellebuyck won the award during the 2019-20 season. He is a two-time All-Star. Hellebuyck’s 2022-23 season with the Jets was excellent. In 64 starts, he won 37 games with a 2.49 GAA and .920 save percentage.

One thing is for sure if the Devils can add a player like Connor Hellebuyck that could propel them into contenders for a long time.