Devils acquire 3-time Vezina winner Hellebuyck from Jets — SkimNews
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- New Jersey Devils acquired goaltender Connor Hellebuyck from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for forwards Dawson Mercer, Nick Bjugstad, and Alexander Command, goalie Nico Daws, a 2027 seventh-round pick, and a 2029 second-round pick
- Connor Hellebuyck forfeited nearly $928,000 in salary after sitting out the start of the season with the Jets, following his trade request this summer for personal and family reasons beyond hockey
- Winnipeg Jets secured additional security for Hellebuyck through police coordination after online and physical safety concerns arose post-Winter Olympics, where he helped the U.S. defeat Canada in the gold medal game
- New Jersey Devils saw their Stanley Cup odds improve from 25-1 to 14-1 on DraftKings immediately after the Hellebuyck trade was announced
- Sunny Mehta, the Devils' first-year GM, made the bold move after previously trading starting goalie Jacob Markstrom to Florida, signaling an aggressive rebuild around goaltending
- Dawson Mercer has recorded four assists in 10 games this season and 213 career NHL points across 420 games, while Alexander Command, the Devils' 12th-overall 2026 pick, is currently playing in Sweden
Why it matters: The Devils gain an elite, proven goaltender in Hellebuyck, whose arrival immediately boosts their Stanley Cup odds by over 40%, while the Jets absorb significant future assets but lose a franchise-caliber goalie amid off-ice safety concerns and family-driven exit motivations that the dominant trade narrative overlooks.
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