Connor Hellebuyck would be the ideal solution for the Oilers’ need for a top goalkeeper. Getting him is a whole different story.
The necessity should come first. Samuel Montembeault has reportedly drawn interest from Edmonton, while a fan account indicated that Connor Ingram is unlikely to stay. It’s obvious that the crease comes first.
It would be extremely unlikely to land Hellebuyck.
This is the reason he is the dream. At $8.5 million, Hellebuyck is the fifth-highest-paid goalie in the world and one of the best. When an outstanding number one is paired with Connor McDavid, Edmonton’s greatest vulnerability becomes a strength in an instant.
The fantasy is that. The actual world is far more difficult.
A franchise goaltender would not be casually moved by Winnipeg. He turns 33 next season and has four years left at that $8.5 million salary, according to McCarthy. That’s a cornerstone-level asset, money, and time all in one.
The Hellebuyck angle now. According to Dave McCarthy, it wouldn’t be shocking if the Winnipeg star played somewhere else the next season, noting things like his dissatisfaction with the Jets’ performance.
But there’s a big warning. Since that study was published in April, it is speculative and a few months old. There’s no real connection between him and Edmonton, and the circumstances may have changed.
Even so, it’s impossible to resist picturing the fit.
Although McCarthy’s note is dated.
It would be very expensive. Even if he were available, the Oilers would be in fantasy territory due to the assets needed and fitting that deal, which can only be done when Darnell Nurse is cleared.
The one that is now in motion is the grounded version. The practical goal is to pursue Montembeault and other names. Montembeault is the realistic, whereas Hellebuyck is the fantasy.
This is what I read: let’s face it, this is a dream, not a strategy. Edmonton lacks a top-tier goalie, and Hellebuyck would quickly put a stop to the discussion.
However, it is more of a fan fantasy than a legitimate target due to an outdated story and no relation to Edmonton. Dreaming is fun, but doing it is quite difficult.
The need itself is not fantasy. Prioritizing Edmonton’s crease, they plan to add a player prior to the start of the season.
The Oilers really can’t run it back with a question mark in goal next to McDavid, whether it’s a dream like Hellebuyck or a practical choice like Montembeault. Not once again.
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