However, as the excellent Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet has just reported, there has been an unexpected turnaround in this case.
According to his NHL sources, Hellebuyck may actually start the season in Winnipeg, probably because of the very high price to pay for his services.
Imagine the distraction in the locker room!
However, one can understand why this is a complex case, both for the Jets and for the team that wants to acquire the star goaltender.
In addition to the trade that will be expensive in terms of the capital to give, let's remember that Hellebuyck wants a contract "like Carey Price's". So, it's quite an investment to make for an NHL team that would want his services.
Let's remember that Hellebuyck will be a free agent in a year, and he does not want to re-sign with Winnipeg. They certainly don't want to let him go for free, so a verdict is expected in this case.
Hellebuyck, 30 years old, is a 6-foot-4-inch, 210-pound goalie. He has a career save percentage of .916 (.920 last season), with a record of 238-154-37.
POLL | ||
Would you pay $9 million and more, per season, for Hellebuyck? | ||
Yes | 97 | 14.8 % |
No | 461 | 70.4 % |
The era of Carey Price-like contracts is over | 97 | 14.8 % |
List of polls |