A mock trade making the rounds sends Connor Hellebuyck to Florida, and the asking price includes the one player Bill Zito reportedly won't part with.
Hockey Vice laid it out Monday night. Winnipeg gets Jacob Markstrom, Anton Lundell and second round picks in 2027, 2028 and 2029.
It's a graphic, not a report. Nobody from either front office has been anywhere near it.
Here's the problem with it. Elliotte Friedman already addressed that exact name on 32 Thoughts.
Not Lundell, Friedman said. I get asked all the time if it was Lundell.
You would have to rip him out of Bill Zito's hand with a crowbar. Those are the insider's words, not a fan's guess.
The structure isn't foolish, mind you. Friedman reported the Jets want a goaltender coming back, and this one sends a goaltender back.
-
Connor Hellebuyck mock trade puts Anton Lundell at the center of a major obstacle
Florida's real offer was Evan Rodrigues, the picks that went to Ottawa in the Brady Tkachuk trade, and one roster player.
Friedman's verdict on that package ran one sentence. It wasn't enough for the Jets.
Two first round picks didn't get it done. Three seconds and a goalie is not an obvious upgrade on that.
The poster also admits Markstrom would need to accept the deal. That's a real hurdle sitting inside a graphic.
Hellebuyck isn't reporting and Winnipeg has suspended him. That's the actual state of play right now.
Stuart Skinner went all 60 minutes Monday and stopped 31 of 32 in a 3-1 win over Colorado.
Winnipeg looked perfectly fine without him. Nothing about that helps anybody trying to force Kevin Cheveldayoff's hand.
Friedman also reported Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has the Jets on his no-trade list, which closes the cleanest Buffalo route.
An NHL source told TheSickPodcast.com that Montreal hasn't even inquired on him.
Edmonton visits Winnipeg tonight. Florida travels to Carolina after beating them 6-3 on Sunday.
So why do these keep appearing? Building a trade around a player an insider already ruled out works like planning a dinner around an ingredient the store stopped carrying.
Cheveldayoff is still waiting. Every mock that goes up makes the real return look smaller than whatever anybody imagined in September.
Would you trade Anton Lundell and three seconds for Connor Hellebuyck?
Also read on Markerzone.com:
NHL waiver wire heats up as two former first-round picks become available
