MOCK TRADE: Maple Leafs acquire Connor Hellebuyck
The goalie situation in Toronto is close to being an official disaster. Murray is still not traded, Samsonov is still unsigned, and there's no new information that lets us believe things are going in the right direction.
This has made us think about who else could be the Leafs' goaltender.
There's a potential number one candidate out there, and we thought it would be interesting to do a mock trade involving him.
Hellebuyck in Toronto?
Again, this is only a mock trade, and there's no real link between Hellebuyck and the Leafs.
However, the 30-year-old goalie has already let the Jets know that he wants out of Winnipeg. If he wants out, it's probably to join a top contender team, and the Leafs are probably on his list.
Jets receive: Ilya Samsonov, Nick Robertson, Connor Timmins, and a 2024 first-round pick.
Does it Make Sense?
The Leafs would have to part ways with talented young players and a high pick, but they would get a star goalie in Hellebuyck and Logan Stanley, a promising 25-year-old 6' 7" defenseman.
If the Leafs are interested in winning now (which they are), this move would sacrifice a bit of their future to bolster their lineup for next season.
For the Jets, who have recently parted ways with many good players, targeting young players and picks is the way to go. A rebuild, at least partial, seems inevitable in Winnipeg. Robertson, Timmins, and the pick would help the team in the long haul.
We could see a trade like this one happening. Do you think the Leafs should go after Hellebuyck?
As seen on Leafs Nation - Maple Leafs Mock Trade: Toronto acquires Hellebuyck from the Winnipeg Jets
| POLL | ||
Do you think the Leafs should go after Hellebuyck? | ||
| Yes | 1644 | 61.3 % |
| No | 1036 | 38.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
