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Hellebuyck Traded to New Jersey Devils in Blockbuster Deal
Confirmed
In Short: The Winnipeg Jets traded star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to the New Jersey Devils, ending months of speculation.
Connor Hellebuyck, a three-time Vezina Trophy winner, has been traded to the New Jersey Devils by the Winnipeg Jets, according to reports from top NHL insiders Emily Kaplan and Elliotte Friedman.
The trade, which was finalized on Friday, includes the Devils sending center Dawson Mercer, goalie Nico Daws, prospect Alexander Command, forward Nick Bjugstad, a 2029 second-round pick, and a 2027 seventh-rounder to Winnipeg.
Hellebuyck, who has five seasons left on a seven-year contract with an annual salary cap hit of $8.5 million, expressed a desire to play in an American market with a legitimate Stanley Cup window.
The Jets had imposed a season-opening suspension on Hellebuyck, which was set to end on Friday, as part of a standoff that required the involvement of the league and the Players' Association.
Hellebuyck's trade request was granted after months of speculation and a failed bid to move him in June.
The Devils are hoping that Hellebuyck's elite goaltending will push them into championship contention.
Mercer, a 24-year-old center, was a first-round pick of the Devils in 2020 and has scored 20 goals in three of the previous five seasons.
Nico Daws, a third-round pick of the Devils in 2020, has an.897 save percentage in 59 NHL games across five seasons.
Alexander Command, a prospect, is the centerpiece of the deal for the Jets.
The trade ends a standoff between Hellebuyck and the Jets that had been ongoing for weeks.
Hellebuyck's contributions to the U.S. Olympic team, including stopping 41 of 42 shots against Canada in the gold medal game, have made him a valuable asset to the Devils.
The Devils are now set to team up Hellebuyck with Jack Hughes, who netted the golden goal in overtime during the gold medal game.
What this adds
The trade marks a significant shift in the NHL landscape, with Hellebuyck joining a team that has been seeking elite goaltending to bolster their championship aspirations.
What's confirmed
- The Devils sent center Dawson Mercer, goalie Nico Daws, prospect Alexander Command, forward Nick Bjugstad, a 2029 second-round pick and a 2027 seventh-rounder to Winnipeg for Hellebuyck.
What's still developing
- The Winnipeg Jets were hoping to avoid a distraction during the Heritage Classic this weekend with all-star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck ‘s season-opening, team-imposed suspension reportedly ending on Friday.
- The Jets did give up Hellebuyck, one of the best goaltenders of this era, to get that package.
- By targeting New Jersey, Hellebuyck aligns himself with a talent-stacked roster seeking elite goaltending stability to push them into true championship favorite status.
- The tension reached a boiling point in recent weeks, with Winnipeg allowing Hellebuyck to stay away from the team while continuing to scout potential trade partners.
- Hellebuyck and Hughes were the stars who helped the United States bring home its first gold medal in Olympic hockey since the Miracle on Ice in 1980.
- More than that, he has never missed a game – appearing in all 420 games that the Devils have played since the start of the 2021-22 season.
- Mercer spent most of his time next to Devils’ captain Nico Hischier, which certainly supported the successful start to his NHL career.
- Rumors had been swirling for the majority of Friday that the Devils were going to be the ones to land Hellebuyck, but details of the deal were finally broken by Elliot Friedman.
- The 24-year-old has never really reached his full potential since the Devils took him with their 1st round pick in 2020, meaning the Jets are hoping some development can happen here is well.
- The most fascinating part of this trade is what the Devils are clearly trying to achieve.
- The Connor Hellebuyck saga has finally coming to an end.