NHL Rumors: Winnipeg Jets, Los Angeles Kings, Columbus Blue Jackets

Welcome to another edition of Full Press Hockey’s NHL Rumors! The 2022-23 regular season is over and players as well as front offices will be evaluated. Now, with the season completed, the focus shifts toward deals that may go down this summer. What about free agency? Clubs are always working to improve their rosters for next season. Teams who were eliminated from the postseason need to assess what happened and make adjustments. Some teams are having difficulty creating enough cap space to make moves. Others are experiencing severe injuries to star players. Trades/signings are all but over for now, while teams are competing in the playoffs. In this Sunday edition of NHL Rumors, we will look at the Winnipeg Jets, Los Angeles Kings, and the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Winnipeg Jets – Connor Hellebuyck

Rumor: Per – Scott Billeck – winnipegsun.com. Connor Hellebuyck is the Jets’ biggest bargaining chip as NHL Draft looms. Where will he go?

With Hellebuyck being the Jets’ biggest asset, he should help GM Kevin Cheveldayoff start a rebuild of sorts depending on other player transactions. Hellebuyck will be an unrestricted free agent in 2024 and he has stated he has no interest in being part of a rebuild. So, with numerous NHL rumors flying, here’s where the Vezina winner may go:

• Los Angeles Kings – The Kings have a pretty good hockey team but need to get their goaltending straight if they intend to get further in the playoffs. Calvin Petersen was thought to be the solution, but he hasn’t worked out yet. Without Jonathan Quick and relying on Joonas Korpisalo, fresh from a trade and an unrestricted free agent doesn’t spell success in between the pipes. Hellebuyck could stay long-term or short-term in sunny L.A., especially with Anze Kopitar’s $10 million contract up at the end of next season. Just in time for a lengthy and pricey extension for Hellebuyck. How convenient. The return could involve defenseman Sean Durzi and forward Gabriel Vilardi.
• Buffalo Sabres –  They have young Devon Levi and Hellebuyck could teach him the ropes. If the Sabres had Hellebuyck, their chances of being a playoff team increase immensely. A return could include center Peyton Krebs. If the Jets lose Pierre-Luc Dubois and Mark Scheifele, Krebs would certainly fill that void. Maybe adding goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen would help make a deal work.
• Ottawa Senators – Just like the Sabres, the Sens are surging and can make the playoffs soon. With new ownership coming in, acquiring a top netminder like Hellebuyck would make quite a statement. The return may not be what Ottawa wants to hear, but Shane Pinto seems to be what the Jets would require to make a trade work.
• Detroit Red Wings – Hellebuyck is from the area, and that may attract him. But, will GM Steve Yzerman want to part with either Moritz Seider or Lucas Raymond? Doubt it. A more sensible solution may be prospect center Marco Kasper, goalie Ville Husso and Detroit’s ninth-overall pick next month. Still, that’s quite a haul.

Los Angeles Kings – Viktor Arvidsson

Rumor: Per – Lyle Richardson – bleacherreport.com. The Kings are in a salary cap crunch and Arvidsson may be the odd man out.

The Kings only have about $7.6 million in cap space and still need to sign free agents Vladislav Gavrikov and Joonas Korpisalo. That will be tough. Arvidsson has a reasonable $4.3 AAV but will be a UFA next summer. With Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe due to become UFAs at the same time while young forwards Quinton Byfield and Arthur Kaliyev become restricted free agents, Arvidsson could be the odd man out.

He would have some excellent trade value as he collected 26 goals and 59 points in 77 games this season. Like so many other NHL teams, the salary cap limits the moves they can make. At this point, he is just the easiest player to help solve their cap space issue.

Elliotte Friedman of sportsnet.ca stated on his 32 Thoughts podcast that Arvidsson could be traded.

Around Full Press Hockey

NHL: Arizona Coyotes New Arena Approaches Fateful Vote

NHL:  NHL All-Star Game Thoughts and Possible Changes

NFL: What Eddie Robinson Told Doug Williams After He Made History 35 Years Ago

Full Press Bets:  The Five Most Intriguing NFL Schedules for 2023

PODCAST: Full Press Hockey Weekly Ep 55: Stanley Cup Playoffs, Road Warriors, and More

WANT MORE PODCASTS? Check Out Some Of The Latest From Around The FPC Network

Columbus Blue Jackets – Mike Babcock

Rumor: Per – Paul Kasabian – bleacherreport.com. Blue Jackets intend to hire former Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock as head coach.

The Blue Jackets intend to name Mike Babcock as their new head coach once his contract with the Maple Leafs expires at the end of this month, Sportsnet can confirm. pic.twitter.com/PR0Of7ZYrS

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 3, 2023

It certainly came as a shock to hear Babcock’s name back in the NHL coaching discussions. They must wait until his contract with the Leafs expires on June 30th. Babcock has an impeccable coaching record of 700 wins, 418 regulation losses, 19 ties and 164 overtime defeats. He also carries some baggage with him as some former players notably accused the coach of verbal and mental abuse after Toronto fired him in 2019.

He will have his work cut out for him as the Columbus team has missed the playoffs for the last three seasons. The Blue Jackets finished the season with a less-than-desirable 25-48-9 record. They were ranked 30th in goals scored per game at 2.60. Their defense was even worse with a 4.01 goals-against average, ranking them 31st. If Babcock has any coaching skills left in his bag of tricks, he’ll need every single one to turn this team around.

One thing Babcock will have in his favor will be the team’s third overall pick. They should get a quality player to help in their efforts.

That concludes this edition of NHL rumors. Be sure to catch our next article and thanks for reading!