Chris Johnston doesn't see the Kings as the likely landing spot for Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, but Buffalo, Carolina and maybe San Jose remain in the mix.
"I sort of think the teams that we've talked about this are kind of the teams," Johnston said on his show.
He added that Utah is certainly another team he didn't mention earlier.
Hellebuyck remains suspended for not reporting to training camp, according to TVA Sports, and carries an $8,500,000 cap hit.
Carolina makes the most sense. A team already near the top of the standings adding him would be the scariest move of the season.
His market is like a crowded open house. Plenty of people walk through, but only a couple can actually afford to make an offer.
The Hurricanes sit second in the league, with Pyotr Kochetkov at .911 in goal.
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Connor Hellebuyck unlikely to land with Kings as Sabres, Hurricanes stay in mix, per Johnston
Buffalo's Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is at .854, and Elliotte Friedman has said Hellebuyck would waive to go there.
San Jose's Yaroslav Askarov sits at .848 in the Sharks' crease.
Utah's Karel Vejmelka is at .898 for a team sitting at 6-2-0.
Florida already made an offer earlier in the saga, according to Friedman, though Winnipeg wasn't interested in that package.
Jacob Markstrom sits at .904 for the Panthers, with Akira Schmid at .876 behind him.
New Jersey's Jake Allen is at .885, and David Pagnotta has already floated the Devils as a possible goalie buyer.
Johnston doesn't see Los Angeles as likely, but the winless Kings have Darcy Kuemper at .847.
Edmonton has Devon Levi at .897, while Tristan Jarry sits at .837 and keeps surfacing in trade talk.
Winnipeg is 4-1-2 with Stuart Skinner at .906, so Kevin Cheveldayoff isn't in any rush.
With eight possible suitors, does Cheveldayoff finally get an offer he likes?
Carolina visits Winnipeg on Saturday afternoon, which should make for an interesting scouting trip for everyone involved.
The list keeps growing. The only list that matters is the one Hellebuyck himself would approve.
Should the Hurricanes trade for Connor Hellebuyck?
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