I would like to think that some players take a pay cut in order to play for a team in a city that is important to them.
I don't think Winnipeg would be one of those cities though
Perhaps they took a slight pay cut but...
Both of these players wanted out. Have been for a while, really. I wonder if they got a better idea of what their market would look like as a free agent while they were on the trade market.
Because i mean... there were reports that there aren't any interest on Scheifele. Not once but couple of different times during the summer. Like Kuznetsov, he has his (different) red flags. Would he have gotten 7 years elsewhere? I could easily see a scenario where he doesn't, atleast not at that salary.
Hellebuyck is a goalie who turns 31 before his next contract kicks in. Would he have gotten 7 years elsewhere? Possibly. At that same salary? Ehhh... i think that Sorokin extension didn't do him any favours. There were also reports that he wants to win. I don't think any of the realistic cup favourites would have given him that contract because it does carry a quite a bit of risk.
Seems like a win-win for both parties, atleast short-term, but i'm not that shocked that they ended up staying and signing those contracts.