Hellebuyck confirms he would waive his NTC to join struggling team as Elliotte Friedman adds to major update

Connor Hellebuyck would waive his way to Buffalo, according to Elliotte Friedman, and the Sabres' goaltending is giving them every reason to finally make the call.

Buffalo was shut out 4-0 at home by Dallas on Thursday, and the crowd made its frustration heard. Friedman noted the chants in the building and wondered how long Jarmo Kekalainen can wait.

"This is a big year in Buffalo," Friedman said. "We all know they were interested. We all know they were pretty close to getting him."

The numbers explain the urgency. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen sits at a .782 save percentage, and Colten Ellis is at .900, with the Sabres at 2-2-0.

Friedman's question was simple. If Buffalo doesn't get strong enough goaltending, "are they the team that steps up and says, okay, we're going to do this?"

Luukkonen has Winnipeg on his no-trade list, which complicated earlier talks. The draft framework, with the Jets wanting the fourth overall pick without giving back the eighth, never got done.

Stuart Skinner and Clay Stevenson could break the logjam for Winnipeg

The Jets' side has changed too. Winnipeg is 3-0-1 without Hellebuyck, and Friedman pointed out how different it would feel if that were reversed: "It would be a gong show in the province."

Stuart Skinner and Clay Stevenson have both delivered. Stevenson won a tough back-to-back game in Pittsburgh and gets the start Friday against Anaheim.

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That's the key. If the Jets decide they can live with that tandem, they may no longer insist on a goalie coming back, and Friedman believes that could break the logjam.

Winnipeg is juggling other issues as well, playing without Josh Morrissey after he missed two periods of its last win. Mark Scheifele finally got on the scoresheet in that game.

Buffalo should go now. A struggling starter in a "big year" is not a plan, and Kekalainen would be foolish to let this window close while the Jets' demands soften.

Waiting for the goalie to find his game while the building chants is like waiting for rain to fix a leaky roof.

The Sabres host Utah on Saturday, another team linked to Hellebuyck. That game might double as a scouting session for both front offices.

Hellebuyck would go to Buffalo. The Jets might not need a goalie back. All that's missing is someone picking up the phone.

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