Connor Hellebuyck trade saga takes major turn as three-team deal emerges

Feels like the messy trade saga in Winnipeg is only getting messier. The Carolina Hurricanes hoisted the Stanley Cup just months ago, but their offseason ambitions suggest they have no intention of resting on that achievement. According to Elliotte Friedman, the reigning champions are reportedly still pushing hard to acquire Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.

The catch is that a straight deal between Carolina and Winnipeg has proven elusive all summer. Now, a potential three-way trade involving the St. Louis Blues could be the mechanism that finally gets it done, Friedman claims.

At the heart of the situation is defenseman Alexander Nikishin, the talented young Russian blueliner who just completed an impressive rookie campaign with the Hurricanes. If Nikishin had been willing to sign in Winnipeg, Hellebuyck would likely already be wearing a Hurricanes jersey. That hasn't materialized, forcing Carolina to get creative.

Friedman reported in his latest 32 Thoughts column that several teams now have permission to speak with Nikishin, who recently changed agents. The belief is that Carolina is exploring whether a three-team structure could bridge the gap.

"St. Louis has been a consistent pursuer, and there are some who are surprised it hasn't happened," Friedman wrote, adding that Nashville also made an attempt but fell short of what the Hurricanes were seeking in return.

Nikishin is reportedly targeting an annual average value of around $9 million over five years on his next contract, though Friedman noted that some sources believe that number could come down in the right circumstances. The 24-year-old, who turns 25 on Oct. 2, posted 33 points with 11 goals and 22 assists in his first North American season while registering a plus-18 rating. At 6-foot-3 and 218 pounds, his upside appears significant.

The Hurricanes were reportedly disappointed that a previously discussed trade with the Rangers fell through, but made clear they intended to move Nikishin on their own timeline. That patience may now be giving way to urgency with the season on the doorstep.

Hellebuyck, the Vezina-caliber netminder and Olympic gold medalist, has been the subject of trade speculation throughout the offseason. A deal has never quite come together with any single partner, which is why a three-team arrangement suddenly looks like the most viable path.

If the Blues genuinely covet Nikishin, they could serve as the ideal intermediary, receiving the defenseman while sending assets to Winnipeg that help facilitate Hellebuyck's move to Carolina.

Rumours keep swirling and Hellebuyck remains on his couch in Winnipeg, awaiting to be moved. But with Carolina motivated, the next few days could prove decisive.