Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres: Trade Value Rankings Part 6
By Brad Vos
A great goalie and two elite forwards
(6) Connor Hellebuyck – WPG (Age: 27/Cap Hit: $6.167M/4 Years Left)
The Winnipeg Jets struck gold in the 2012 NHL draft, finding Hellebuyck in the fifth round, with the 130th overall selection. In five NHL seasons, the goaltender has never had a GAA above three or a sv% below .900.
In 2019-20, the Michigan native had one of his best seasons, posting a 2.57 GAA and .922 SV% over 58 games played. The team struggled in front of him in the postseason, and the Jets were bounced from the bubble in four games.
Please make no mistake about it, Heelbuyck is one of the very best players in the league. He is still just 27-years-old and makes a very reasonable $6.167 million over each of the next four seasons.
(5) David Pastrnak – BOS (Age: 24/ Cap Hit: $6.67M/3 Years Left)
The Bruins’ best player is David Pastrnak, and he seems to be improving with each passing season. The Czech native was selected 25th overall in 2014 and joined the Bruins that season.
He was underwhelming in his first two seasons but was also very raw still. Pastrnak had 53 points over 97 games in those first two campaigns. In 2016-17, we saw what ‘Pasta’ could do, as he blitzed the league for 70 points in 75 games.
His numbers have improved each season since, and he set career-highs in 2019-20 for goals (48), assists (47) and points (95), while only playing 70 games. The winger has also been a valuable playoff performer, recording 53 points in 52 postseason games.
Pastrnak is going to be underpaid for the next three seasons, making $6.67 million annually. His contract alone may be the most valuable in the entire league.
(4) Leon Draisaitl – EDM (Age: 24/ Cap Hit: $8.50M/5 Years Left)
While Connor McDavid gets most of the shine in Edmonton, his running mate Draisaitl is no slouch either. The German has been a beast since being selected third overall by the Oilers in 2014.
In 422 career games, Draisaitl has recorded precisely 422 points. He has improved every season and recorded 50 goals in 2018-19. Draisatl had his best season in 2019-20, where he put up an absurd 110 points in 71 games.
The forward is the favourite to win the Hart Trophy as the league’s most valuable player. The Oilers have him locked up for five more seasons, at a cap hit of $8.5 million.