Rumour Roundup: Who holds keys to Hellebuyck trade?

The Winnipeg Jets-Connor Hellebuyck standoff is nearing a flashpoint.

Hellebuyck, who did not attend training camp amid a trade request, will have his unpaid suspension end Friday, two days before the Jets host the Montreal Canadiens in the Heritage Classic.

If the Vezina Trophy-winning goalie isn't dealt by then, however, then things could get sticky.

"My belief is if Winnipeg can't trade him by Friday, they'll just tell him, 'Look, we're gonna pay you, but you're not coming in.' That's what I expect to happen," Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on Monday's episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast.

The Jets have held out on trading the former league MVP Hellebuyck since he asked for a move in the wake of last season's playoff miss.

However, with the suspension ending, the calculus on a return could change.

"The Jets prefer no deal over a bad deal, but it's much more difficult when you actually have to pay somebody to not be there," Friedman said.

To that end, per Friedman, three teams hold the keys to a Hellebuyck move.

The Buffalo Sabres have long been reported as a team that has mutual interest with Hellebuyck. The New York Rangers are unlikely to trade for the Commerce, Mich., native, but how they choose to plug their hole in net due to the Igor Shesterkin injury could have ripple effects on the goalie market.

Meanwhile, the Utah Mammoth have been in and out on Hellebuyck, per Friedman.

"This is a very big year in Utah. And the thing about the Mammoth is they grind you in trade talks, they kinda have that reputation, which is fine, but if they want something — like you look at Vincent Trocheck, they wanted Trocheck for a year, at least, and finally got him," Friedman said. "Now that it's real (with Hellebuyck), I just want to see if they're a factor in all of this."

The Carolina Hurricanes could also make a move for Hellebuyck, per Friedman, though a deal may be harder to put together.

How Hellebuyck affects Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings are not considered a suitor for Hellebuyck — but they're likely watching the situation closely as they deal with their own trade request from ex-captain Dylan Larkin.

"If I was the Red Wings, I'd be looking at this, and also knowing that Larkin's already been injured once, and saying how long do I want to let this go on? This is now going to move into circus town in Winnipeg, not because anybody wants it, because eventually we just get there," Friedman said.

"If I'm the Red Wings I'm looking at this and saying when does this get that way with us? How much longer do we want to risk Larkin until he gets hurt?"

Larkin missed the Red Wings' first two games due to an upper-body injury and has just three points (one goal, two assists) in six games since returning.

Maple Leafs eye blue-line changes

In Toronto, the Maple Leafs are willing to trade a premium asset for an upgrade on their aging defence corps, Friedman reported Saturday.

He dove into more detail on what those assets may — or may not — be.

"They don't seem to be that interested in trading (Easton) Cowan. They really believe that he is the real deal. He has come a long way in a short time in the eyes of the organization," Friedman said.

"I would assume that the (2027) Colorado (first-round) pick is one of those things. I would assume that a couple of their top prospects, maybe not in the NHL, would be a couple of those things. I'm not really sure what else."

Defence prospect Ben Danford could also be one of those assets the Leafs would move, Friedman added.

The Maple Leafs have allowed 32 goals in nine games, ranking 26th in the NHL and highlighting the need for stouter blue-liners.

At just 3-4-2 and outside the playoff picture in the early going, some vultures could be circling, per Friedman.

"Some people think that with the pressure Toronto faces, especially when (Auston) Matthews only has one year left on his deal, that they'll do something panicky to make everything look better. Especially now that their defence is leaking a bit with (Chris) Tanev out," Friedman said.

Meanwhile, Friedman reported that the Maple Leafs could make some of their older defenceman available "as long as the return is younger."

Zadorov benched in Boston

The Boston Bruins scratched veteran defenceman Nikita Zadorov for a game after he took a late penalty against the Anaheim Ducks, which head coach Marco Sturm viewed as undisciplined.

Zadorov's benching prompted a response from his agent, Dan Milstein.

However, it doesn't seem like Zadorov is on his way out, per Friedman.

"Boston's going really well, right?" Friedman said. "I think when the team is going well, I'm sure there's people in the organization who didn't like that very much, but when things are going well, it's like whatever. Wins matter."