Michael Augello Mon, October 26, 2026 at 4:44 PM UTC · 2 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Buffalo Sabres now have to deal with questions about their immediate future and their sluggish start to the 2026-27 season without the possibility of bringing in goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, as the saga involving the Hart and Vezina Trophy winner and the Winnipeg Jets ended on Friday with the deal to the New Jersey Devils for center Dawson Mercer, goalie Nico Daws, 2026 first rounder Alexander Command, forward Nick Bjugstad, and a pair of draft picks.
The Sabres were reportedly among the leading contenders for the 33-year-old, going back to last June and the NHL Draft, but they were not alone in their interest. On the most recent episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast ,
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman detailed what the various clubs offered for Hellebuyck, but he admittedly could not specify what Buffalo GM Jarmo Kekalainen was prepared to give up. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was reportedly part of a trade for Hellebuyck before July 1, but once his five-team no-trade clause kicked in, moving him to another club to clear his salary and recoup or obtain some assets likely became a complicating factor.O
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Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is the goalie for the Buffalo Sabres for now and the future after Connor Hellebuyck was dealt to New Jersey.
Another factor that killed any chances of a trade before the draft was the Sabres ask of swapping the fourth overall pick, acquired from Chicago in the Bowen Byram deal; for the Jets eighth overall selection. Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff had targeted Swedish forward Viggo Bjorck at #8, and wanted the fourth overall outright as part of the trade.
Friedman mentioned Sabres center Josh Norris, but he had heard that the Jets were concerned about his injury history. Ryan McLeod was the subject of some
speculation as being part of the deal, but was not a name that Friedman had heard. He also assumed with it well known that Winnipeg was looking for young centers or young retainable forwards that they would have asked about Noah Ostlund, Konsta Helenius or Jack Quinn.
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Source: Sports
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