The St. Louis Blues could suddenly find themselves at the center of the NHL's biggest trade saga.
St. Louis doesn't appear to be pursuing Connor Hellebuyck. It doesn't need him.
Instead, the Blues could become the team that finally makes a Hellebuyck trade possible.
According to insider Elliotte Friedman in Monday’s edition of the 32 Thoughts Podcast, the Carolina Hurricanes have emerged as the most motivated team in pursuit of the Winnipeg Jets goaltender, and Carolina could be exploring a three-team trade because of Alexander Nikishin.
"Right now, Carolina is the most motivated pursuer. If Nikishin wanted to sign in Winnipeg, Hellebuyck would already be in Wolfpack country. There are now some teams with permission to speak to Nikishin (who just changed agents), and the suspicion is it's because the Hurricanes want to see if there's a three-way available. I mentioned on Monday's pod that Nikishin is believed to be looking for a $9 million AAV over five years. I had a few sources reach out to say they think that could be lower in the right situation. St. Louis has been a consistent pursuer, and there are some who are surprised it hasn't happened. Nashville tried, but wasn't close enough for what Carolina wants. The Hurricanes were disappointed the Rangers trade didn't work out and made it clear they would move Nikishin at their own pace. They are motivated now, so we'll see. Nikishin is a talented player, but has zero leverage under the CBA."
That's where the Blues become particularly interesting.
St. Louis has already been linked to Nikishin as one of the teams interested in acquiring the young defenseman. Reuters reported before the season that the Blues were among the clubs that had shown interest following Nikishin's trade request.
Suddenly, there is a potential mechanism that could solve three different problems.
Carolina wants Hellebuyck.
Winnipeg apparently doesn't want Nikishin as the centerpiece of its return if he won't sign there.
And the Blues want Nikishin.
That is where things get fascinating.
Blues Could Turn Nikishin Into What Winnipeg Actually Wants
The basic concept is relatively simple.
Carolina could send Nikishin to St. Louis, while the Blues send Winnipeg the assets the Jets actually want in exchange for Hellebuyck.
In its most basic form:
Winnipeg → Carolina: Connor Hellebuyck
Carolina → St. Louis: Alexander Nikishin
St. Louis → Winnipeg: Assets that help the Jets remain competitive
That is not a reported trade proposal. There is no indication that these exact pieces have been agreed upon.
But it demonstrates why St. Louis could be so important.
The problem for Carolina isn't necessarily finding value for Nikishin. He's a 24-year-old defenseman coming off a 33-point rookie season who finished plus-18 in 81 games. The problem is that Winnipeg apparently needs to be convinced that Nikishin is actually willing to become a Jet.
Friedman suggested that if Nikishin wanted to sign in Winnipeg, Hellebuyck could already be in Carolina.
That changes the equation.
Instead of trying to convince Winnipeg to accept a player it may not be able to sign, Carolina could send Nikishin somewhere he is actually wanted.
The Blues fit that description.
And St. Louis has a pretty obvious reason for wanting him.
The Blues already had questions on defense entering the season, and those questions became more significant when Logan Mailloux was ruled out for at least eight weeks following hand surgery.
Adding a young defenseman with Nikishin's upside would address an obvious need.
Blues Have More Reason to Get Involved Now
This is where the situation becomes particularly intriguing for St. Louis.
The Blues don't have to care about Hellebuyck.
They only have to care about Nikishin.
If St. Louis believes the young defenseman can become a major part of its blue line for years to come, it could potentially provide Winnipeg with the kind of NHL-ready player or package the Jets are seeking.
That's important because Winnipeg isn't simply looking to dump Hellebuyck.
The Jets missed the playoffs last season, and GM Kevin Cheveldayoff has repeatedly indicated that the organization needs to find the right resolution rather than simply making a trade for the sake of making one. Hellebuyck requested a trade in August and was subsequently suspended after failing to report to training camp.
That makes the Blues' role much more significant.
A package of futures might not accomplish what Winnipeg wants.
But a package from St. Louis that helps the Jets immediately while Carolina gets Hellebuyck and the Blues get Nikishin could be a completely different conversation.
The biggest question is what that package would actually look like.
That's the part we don't know.
There has been reporting connecting St. Louis to Nikishin, and Friedman has reported that Carolina is exploring whether a three-team solution exists.
What hasn't been established is which Blues assets Winnipeg would want.
Still, the Blues suddenly have a reason to pay close attention to one of the biggest potential blockbusters in the NHL.
They don't need to acquire Hellebuyck.
They may simply need to acquire the player standing between Hellebuyck and Carolina.
And if St. Louis really wants Alexander Nikishin, it could be the team that finally makes the entire trade work.
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