Jets Trade Connor Hellebuyck to the Devils
The Winnipeg Jets trade goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to the New Jersey Devils for goalie Nico Daws, forwards Dawson Mercer and Nick Bjugstad, prospect center Alexander Command, a second-round pick in 2029, and a seventh-round pick in 2027.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hellebuyck saga has ended as he heads to a team that few predicted he would agree to be traded to. Most of the speculation had him going to the Carolina Hurricanes or Buffalo Sabres.
Winnipeg Jets trade goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to the New Jersey Devils (NHL Images).
Nevertheless, this was a move that Devils first-year general manager Sunny Mehta felt had to be made. His club began the season with two backup goaltenders in Daws and Jake Allen splitting the goaltending duties. As of today, their combined save percentage (.880) was among the league’s bottom third.
That wasn’t going to cut it for a team with aspirations of moving up into Stanley Cup contention, especially with superstars such as Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier on the roster.
Hellebuyck will need time to regain the form that made him the league’s only active three-time Vezina Trophy winner, a Hart Trophy winner in 2024-25, and the top goaltender in the 2026 Winter Olympics by backstopping Team USA to their first gold medal in 46 years.
Once Hellebuyck returns to game shape, the Devils could become one of the dominant teams in the Eastern Conference this season.
Trade rumors also linked the Devils to Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes, who is UFA-eligible next summer. The cost of acquiring Hellebuyck could take them out of contention for the Wild’s superstar blueliner, dashing the hopes of Devils fans for a Hughes brothers reunion in New Jersey next year.
As for the Jets, they’re moving on from the greatest goalie in franchise history after 11 seasons. It’s not the ending either side envisioned when Hellebuyck signed his seven-year contract three years ago. However, he forced it by going public with his trade request in August and skipping training camp last month. That led to the Jets suspending Hellebuyck without pay, which was slated to end today.
General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has a reputation for patiently awaiting the right returns for players who’ve previously sought trades. That patience may have paid off again.
Mercer, 24, is a versatile young two-way forward who can play center or wing on the second or third line. He’s in the final season of a three-year contract with a $4 million AAV and will be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights next summer.
Daws is in the first season of a two-year contract with an average annual value of $1.1 million. He’s spent five seasons bouncing between the Devils and their AHL affiliate. The 25-year-old goaltender will get a chance to stick with the Jets this season as he’ll likely share duties with current starter Stuart Skinner.
The 34-year-old Bjugstad is a big, well-traveled checking-line forward who also plays center or on the wing. He’s in the second season of a two-year deal with a $1.75 million AAV.
Command was chosen 12th overall in this year’s draft. The 18-year-old center is considered an energetic, two-way playmaker. He’s currently playing for Örebro HK in the Swedish Hockey League.
It can be argued that the Jets didn’t get full value for Hellebuyck, but trades for superstars rarely fetch returns equivalent to their talent. It doesn’t make the Jets a Stanley Cup contender this season, but it should help them remain competitive now and in the future.
Only time will tell who ultimately made the best deal here. Just glad it’s over with.
Ya, Command is the big unknown as he’s still a kid. From what I’ve read he plays hard, gets to net/dirty areas, which usually translates to NHL production.
Or an energy 3C if the offense doesn’t translate. So has a decent floor as well.
Puckpedia still shows Helly under suspension. I imagine the Devs waive Poirier to be cap compliant when they take Helly off of suspension.
They do, JohnnyZ, but if you check their site again, you’ll see that they factor his $8.5 mil into the 3-goalie complement for a total there of $11,150,000. Add in the $53,875,000 for the 12F listed and $36,500,000 for the 7 D listed and you get $101,525,000 – which gives them – by my calculation – just under $2.5 mil in cap space. So why they show, at the top, a current cap space of $8,168,303 I can’t figure.
Why do you think Edmonton can’t sell out their arena?
McDavid and company playing very good offensively have they out priced the average fan ? Lots of NHL arenas only 3/4 full but Edmonton has always been sold out. My son was at Utah game and said way less people there than what was announced so people with tickets didn’t even show up.
I think Wnp got the better deal. Those echos of Edvinsson to the bruins are getting louder.
I’ll make a friendly wager that – IF dealt – it’s to the Sharks.
Looks like the Jets got a poor return.Mercer has not performed up to expectations. Bjugstad is a journeyman who is out 4-6 months . Daws has promise but hasn’t shown much yet. A 2nd and a 7th. Command is the wildcard. Projecting how prospects turnout has cost many a scout and GM their jobs. The Jets better hope Command performs to expectations . I think the best return they could have gotten was during the draft.