Three-way trade between Oilers, Jets and Panthers seems very real after latest information
|
Daniel Lucente
Jun 26, 2026 (1:57 PM)
|
|
Photo credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period dropped a key update on the Connor Hellebuyck situation Thursday.
Florida circled back on Hellebuyck with Winnipeg, but the sticking point remains Anton Lundell.
Pierre LeBrun confirmed the Panthers view the 24-year-old center as untouchable, leaving the Jets without the centerpiece they covet most.
Eetu Luostarinen's name has surfaced as a possible inclusion, but that alone likely won't move the needle for Winnipeg.
Re Connor Hellebucyk: "With Florida, we heard they circled back today...I've heard Eetu Luostorainen's name as something, but I still, I'm not seeing it; I don't see a scenario where it can't be Anton Lundell."
- David Pagnotta
- David Pagnotta
Here's what nobody is connecting: if Florida clears their goaltending situation by landing Hellebuyck, Sergei Bobrovsky becomes available.
Bobrovsky is an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and contract talks with the Panthers have reportedly stalled.
That viral Bobrovsky-to-Oilers post isn't random noise - it's the downstream consequence of a Hellebuyck deal actually happening.
Edmonton GM Stan Bowman spent the season patching the crease with Tristan Jarry and Connor Ingram, and neither solved the problem.
The Oilers were in contact with Bobrovsky's camp at the March trade deadline, and the interest hasn't quietly disappeared.
Florida's goalie domino starts in Winnipeg
If the Panthers can find a Hellebuyck package that doesn't include Lundell - Luostarinen, picks, and secondary pieces - they upgrade their crease long-term and move on from Bobrovsky cleanly.
That's the scenario that makes Bobrovsky an Oiler. He's a two-time Stanley Cup champion, a proven playoff performer, and suddenly a free agent on a team that just acquired Brady Tkachuk and needs cap relief.
Why Edmonton makes sense for Bobrovsky
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have never had elite goaltending for a full playoff run.
Bobrovsky, despite his age, is still a legitimate top option in this market. The Oilers could absorb his contract more easily than acquiring Hellebuyck, and they'd be getting a goalie who has already won under pressure.
The Hellebuyck rumor and the Bobrovsky buzz aren't separate stories. They're the same story told from two different ends.
Also read on HockeyLatest :
After rejecting Seattle, three new frontrunners emerge for Jason Robertson
After rejecting Seattle, three new frontrunners emerge for Jason Robertson