NHL Rumor Roundup: Fallout From The Connor Hellebuyck Trade, Capitals Willing to Move Miroshnichenko

A look at the teams that tried to acquire Connor Hellebuyck before he was traded to the New Jersey Devils, and the latest on the Washington Capitals after allowing Ivan Miroshnichenko to speak with other clubs about a trade. Uncertainty over Connor Hellebuyck's future was finally settled last Friday, when the Winnipeg Jets shipped the 33-year-old goaltender to the New Jersey Devils. Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic believed the Carolina Hurricanes could feel the sting the most after watching a division rival reel in the three-time Vezina Trophy winner. He reported that Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky had pursued Hellebuyck for several months. According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Hurricanes really wanted to acquire Hellebuyck. However, the Jets wanted immediate forward help, and Tulsky was unwilling to part with someone like Logan Stankoven, Seth Jarvis, or Jackson Blake. Friedman said the Hurricanes tried reaching out to other teams, hoping to find suitable forwards that they could flip to the Jets for Hellebuyck.Related stories The Buffalo Sabres nearly landed Hellebuyck in June before the 2026 NHL Draft. That deal reportedly fell through over a disagreement regarding which first-round picks would be involved. LeBrun stated that the Utah Mammoth looked into acquiring Hellebuyck, but he doesn't believe they were seriously interested. The Jets probably weren't keen on sending him to a division rival. The Vegas Golden Knights always seem to sniff around every major player available in the trade market. Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review Journal reported that they kicked tires on Hellebuyck. It would've involved the Golden Knights sending goalie Adin Hill to the Jets, but Hill has Winnipeg on his no-trade list. The Devils' acquisition of Hellebuyck raised questions about what other moves GM Sunny Mehta might have up his sleeve. Daily Faceoff's Jeff Marek wondered if the Devils would try to land Quinn Hughes if the superstar defenseman is shopped before the March 1 trade deadline. It's well known that he'd love to play with his brothers, Jack and Luke. However, Marek believes Quinn would be concerned about taking playing time away from Luke. Miroshnichenko On The Move? Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday that the Capitals have permitted Ivan Miroshnichenko and his agent to speak with other teams about a trade. Miroshnichenko was chosen 20th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft. The 22-year-old winger has top-six forward potential, but the Capitals’ depth on the wings prevented him from cracking the lineup. For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free.