If Utah were to trade for Connor Hellebuyck, what should the Mammoth give in return?
Well, despite the fact that Hellebuyck can be a game-changer for Utah, an expensive return, or a very expensive return, shouldn't be considered. There are some packages that Utah can consider, though.
What would be a good return for Utah?
Utah shouldn't at all consider trading mega prospects Tij Iginla or Caleb Desnoyers, but they have some interesting names.
This includes all three goalies who can have a large impact soon: starter Karel Vejmelka, prospect Sebastian Cossa (recently traded from Detroit), and prospect Michael Hrabal. If Utah wants Hellebuyck, then trading one of these goalies in return for Hellebuyck would only make sense.
Which one could also determine what additional assets need to be traded to Winnipeg. The 33-year-old didn't have a great season, but he still has superstar capabilities. With help from a great defenseman, Hellebuyck wowed with a stellar performance that helped the US win the gold medal at the Winter Olympics.
The fact that Hellebuyck did this and won the Hart Trophy just two seasons ago gives the Jets a reason to hold on to him until they get a nice offer. That doesn't mean Utah should just give up a first-round pick or a good prospect with another goalie, but Utah may want Hellebuyck anyway.
Rumors have continued around Hellebuyck, which may lead fans to ignore them and not take them seriously. However, Hellebuyck demanded a trade and will probably have to be traded by the beginning of the season. Utah is one of the few teams where Hellebuyck would make sense.
At the end of the day, Utah can sit well with the fact that the 1-2 punch of Vejmelka and Cossa has tremendous potential. However, Utah knows it's taking a risk. A risk because it's not sure both of those guys will succeed. Further, none of those guys (at least for now) have Hellebuyck's ability to just take over a game.
That might make a trade all the more interesting. The important thing, though, is that a nice package - for Utah- is given in return.
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