Connor Hellebuyck to Buffalo still makes plenty of sense, but Winnipeg is reportedly looking for more than draft picks alone.
NHL Trade Rumors raised the idea earlier this week, suggesting the Sabres may need to attach real roster pieces rather than futures alone.
"Connor Hellebuyck to Buffalo still makes sense but the Sabres may have to offer more than futures," the report read.
One specific package floated in the reporting includes forward Ryan McLeod, a premium prospect and a 2027 first-round pick.
McLeod gives that package real substance. He posted 14 goals and 40 assists for 54 points over 81 games this past season, with a plus-25 rating.
He was even more involved in the playoffs, picking up 5 points over 13 games as Buffalo made a real deep postseason run.
Ryan McLeod would be the centerpiece of that package
Buffalo's motivation is not really about need in net. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon already outperformed Hellebuyck's own numbers this past season.
Hellebuyck posted an .895 save percentage with 18 wins over 57 games, a quieter year than his usual standard in Winnipeg.
The appeal instead is about upside and a proven track record, heading into a season where Buffalo finished 50-23-9 for 109 points and fourth overall under head coach Lindy Ruff.
General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has already made clear Winnipeg will only move Hellebuyck for a package it is genuinely comfortable with.
Giving up a player like McLeod, plus a premium prospect and a first-round pick, would test exactly how comfortable Buffalo's front office is willing to get for a single goaltender.
The full breakdown of the proposed package is worth reading directly.
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Whether Buffalo actually puts a name like McLeod on the table is the real test of how badly the Sabres want this trade to happen.
Should Buffalo give up Ryan McLeod to land Connor Hellebuyck?
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