What happened: Winnipeg is fielding interest in three-time Vezina winner Connor Hellebuyck, and any deal means taking on the 33-year-old for five more seasons at an $8.5 million cap hit through 2030-31. The core question front offices are weighing is whether they would be acquiring a still-elite superstar or overpaying for past performance.

Why it matters: Hellebuyck has graded as one of the league's best goalies for years, and that level of netminding can lift a playoff team into Stanley Cup contention. But the length and price of the contract carry real downside if his play slips in his mid-30s, and the asking price to pry him loose is expected to be steep.

What to watch: Watch whether Winnipeg's asking price produces a summer deal; the Sabres remain among the teams still discussing a Hellebuyck move.