What happened: Connor Hellebuyck made his months-old trade request public with training camp approaching. Offers under review have yet to produce a deal.
Why it matters: Carolina has the cap space to absorb Hellebuyck while Brandon Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov provide leverage in negotiations. Anaheim could make the money work by building a package around Lukas Dostal and draft capital.
By the numbers: Hellebuyck carries an $8.5 million annual cap hit through 2030-31. Dostal's deal carries a $6.5 million annual value.
What to watch: Watch whether Carolina revives earlier discussions or Anaheim considers moving Dostal to clear salary.