Sabres' latest move allows them to fit Connor Hellebuyck's salary in a trade, barely

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The Buffalo Sabres may still have a chance to get Connor Hellebuyck.

And on the potential trade front, there's good news -- they can fit his salary, probably, and barely.

The Sabres signed Peyton Krebs to his new deal on Monday, and that mostly solidified what the salary cap picture looks like.

The one key left is that Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has to go to Winnipeg in the trade for the star goalie. If that happens, the Sabres can fit Hellebuyck:

The Sabres are down to about $5.4 million in cap space after the Krebs signing

If Luukkonen were the only roster player subtracted in a Hellebuyck trade, that would leave the Sabres with about $1.6 million in cap space

— Joe Marino (@NotTheJoeMarino) July 13, 2026

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In a follow-up to the above post, Marino points out that the Sabres probably will still need to sign a 13th forward so that one of their younger forwards isn't a healthy scratch most games. That would require a veteran, someone who likely can just squeak under a $1.6 million cap spot.

Of course, Buffalo could include other players along with UPL in a trade for Hellebuyck to give themselves a bit more salary cap breathing room, too.

But it's definitely more encouraging for the numbers to work out this way than some alternative where they'd have no chance of fitting Hellebuyck on the books.

It seems at this point that the only dilemma, and it's certainly a notable one, is actually having the Jets and Sabres agree on trade parameters. Hellebuyck seems open to a deal, and the Sabres clearly want him.

If a trade can be agreed on, the financials seem to all be in order.