Devils Land Star Goalie Hellebuyck in Deal With Jets

WHO:

NHL.com - Connor Hellebuyck said he had been skating hard in Michigan and felt prepared to join the Devils, but said adjusting to an NHL practice and the speed of a full roster would be important.

NHL.com - Hellebuyck described joining the Devils as “a new challenge” and said, “I’m excited for this challenge, and that’s what drives me.”

ESPN - Devils general manager Sunny Mehta had traded Jacob Markstrom to the Florida Panthers in late June; the trade brought back three forwards.

ESPN - Connor Hellebuyck won the Hart Trophy in 2025.

ESPN - Hellebuyck is under contract for four more years at $8.5 million annually.

Fox News - Connor Hellebuyck and Jack Hughes, members of Team USA’s Olympic gold-medal-winning hockey team, became NHL teammates after the trade.

Sportskeeda - Star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is heading to the New Jersey Devils after the Winnipeg Jets agreed to trade him.

NHL.com - The trade involved the Devils, Jets, goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, forward Dawson Mercer, goaltender Nico Daws, forward Nick Bjugstad and draft picks.

NHL.com - Winnipeg captain Adam Lowry said the Jets were focused on improving and winning a Stanley Cup, and would make do with their current group.

NHL.com - Jets coach Scott Arniel said his preparation was focused on winning games and that he was not worried about who was or was not on the team.

WHAT:

ESPN - Hellebuyck’s suspension from the Winnipeg Jets ended Friday, with his trade to New Jersey following.

ESPN - Dawson Mercer had zero goals and four assists through 10 games and averaged 18:13 of ice time last season.

ESPN - Nick Bjugstad was recovering from offseason pectoral muscle surgery; his initial estimated return was four to six months, around January. He was in the final year of his contract.

ESPN - Winnipeg had lost its previous four games and had a minus-3 goal differential.

ESPN - The trade sent Alexander Command, a 2027 seventh-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick to Winnipeg.

ESPN - New Jersey had the second-fewest high-danger scoring chances allowed per 60, the third-fewest scoring chances allowed per 60 and the 10th-fewest shots allowed per 60; its 5-on-5 shot share was 59.74%.

ESPN - New Jersey’s 5-on-5 save percentage was 89.95%; its all-situations save percentage was .880.

ESPN - Hellebuyck had faced the NHL’s second-most shots since 2021-22.

ESPN - Winnipeg ranked 25th in goals per game at 2.60, averaged the 12th-fewest shots and 13th-fewest scoring chances per 60, and had a 47.30% 5-on-5 shot share.

ESPN - Winnipeg had 28 draft picks over the next three years after the trade.

NHL.com - Connor Hellebuyck’s career record includes a 2.58 goals-against average, .916 save percentage and 45 shutouts in 625 NHL games.

NHL.com - The Devils selected forward Command with the No. 12 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

NHL.com - The Devils acquired Nick Bjugstad from St. Louis on Feb. 4.

NHL.com - Connor Hellebuyck had a career NHL record of 345-208-55 in 625 games.

NHL.com - The Devils averaged 3.30 goals per game and ranked fourth in the Metropolitan Division.

NHL.com - New Jersey limited Anaheim to 17 shots on goal in a 4-1 win.

NHL.com - Before the trade, Nico Daws had a .874 save percentage, differing from the .872 figure reported elsewhere.

Sportskeeda - NHL fans reacted to the trade package, with some highlighting a seventh-round pick.

Sportskeeda - Reports said the Jets and Hellebuyck might delay his physical out of respect for the NHL Heritage Classic.

NHL.com - Winnipeg began the season without Hellebuyck with a 4-3-3 record.

NHL.com - Stuart Skinner, who signed a two-year, $7.5 million contract with a $3.75 million average annual value, had a 3-1-3 record, 2.67 goals-against average and .912 save percentage in seven starts.

NHL.com - Clay Stevenson had a 1-2-0 record, 3.08 goals-against average and .893 save percentage in three starts. Washington had placed him on waivers before Winnipeg claimed him.

NHL.com - Hellebuyck holds the Jets/Atlanta Thrashers franchise records for games played (625), starts (615), wins (345) and shutouts (45). His .916 save percentage and 2.58 goals-against average are franchise bests among goalies with at least 80 games.

NHL.com - New Jersey’s record was 6-4-0. Jake Allen was 4-2-0 with a 3.15 goals-against average and .883 save percentage in six starts; Daws was 2-2-0 with a 2.78 goals-against average and .872 save percentage in four starts. The Devils’ .876 team save percentage was tied for 23rd in the NHL with Anaheim.

NHL.com - Daws, 25, had a career record of 26-26-1, a 2.94 goals-against average, .897 save percentage and one shutout in 59 games over five seasons. New Jersey drafted him 84th overall in the third round of the 2020 NHL Draft.

NHL.com - Mercer, 24, had four assists in 10 games and had scored at least 20 goals three times in his first five NHL seasons. He had 42 points (20 goals, 22 assists) in 82 games last season and 213 points (103 goals, 110 assists) in 420 career games. He had not missed a game in six NHL seasons. New Jersey drafted him 18th overall in 2020.

NHL.com - Bjugstad, 34, had not played that season because of an upper-body injury. He recorded nine points (six goals, three assists) in 61 games last season with St. Louis and New Jersey; the Devils acquired him in a trade. In 821 games across 14 NHL seasons, he had 339 points (163 goals, 176 assists).

NHL.com - The Devils’ 2026 first-round draft pick, Command, selected 12th overall, had 12 points (seven goals, five assists) in six games with Orebro’s Swedish junior team and no points in six games with its Swedish Hockey League team.

Reddit Sports - The headline described the trade as Hellebuyck going to New Jersey for Mercer, Daws, Bjugstad and picks.

WHERE:

NHL.com - Hellebuyck made 29 saves in Winnipeg’s 3-0 loss to Edmonton at the outdoor venue in 2016.

NHL.com - Winnipeg’s Princess Auto Stadium was known as Investors Group Field when Hellebuyck played there in 2016.

NHL.com - Winnipeg was scheduled to host the Montreal Canadiens at Princess Auto Stadium for the 2026 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic.

NHL.com - Hellebuyck previously made 29 saves for Winnipeg in a 3-0 outdoor-game loss to Edmonton at the same venue, then called Investors Group Field.

NHL.com - Hellebuyck’s career teams included the Devils, St. Louis Blues, Utah Mammoth, Arizona Coyotes, Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wild, Pittsburgh Penguins and Florida Panthers.

WHEN:

NHL.com - The Jets’ Heritage Classic game against Montreal was scheduled for Sunday at 7 p.m. ET.

NHL.com - New Jersey was scheduled to play in Winnipeg on Nov. 10; the article said it was unclear when Hellebuyck would make his Devils debut.

NHL.com - The Heritage Classic would be Winnipeg’s second NHL outdoor game. Hellebuyck played in the first one at the venue.

NHL.com - Lowry and Arniel made their quoted comments on Oct. 17.

WHY:

ESPN - Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said he wished he could have traded Hellebuyck four months earlier.

ESPN - Mehta prioritized acquiring Hellebuyck after trading Markstrom; the move was intended to pair Hellebuyck with New Jersey’s defensive structure and strengthen its bid to contend for the Stanley Cup.

NHL.com - New Jersey’s .876 team save percentage was tied for 23rd in the NHL, while the team averaged 3.30 goals per game and ranked fourth in the Metropolitan Division; Hellebuyck was viewed as a proven goalie who could turn the Devils’ improved defensive commitment into consistent results.

NHL.com - New Jersey general manager Mehta had previously emphasized goaltending’s unpredictability and reluctance to commit significant resources to the position; the article said Hellebuyck’s record of elite performance offered unusual certainty.

NHL.com - The trade addressed the Devils’ goaltending weakness while adding a proven goalie to a roster otherwise considered capable of contending.

HOW:

NHL.com - Hellebuyck’s career record was 345-208-55 in 625 NHL games.

The New Jersey Devils have acquired star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck from the Winnipeg Jets in a major trade. Winnipeg receives forwards Dawson Mercer and Nick Bjugstad, goaltender Nico Daws, and draft picks, including a 2027 seventh-rounder and a 2029 second-rounder. The Devils also send 2026 first-round pick Alexander Command, selected 12th overall, to the Jets. Hellebuyck, the 2025 Hart Trophy winner, is signed for four more years at $8.5 million annually. He said he had been skating hard in Michigan and felt ready, while noting that adjusting to NHL practice and the team’s pace will matter. He called joining New Jersey “a new challenge.” The Devils are adding him after inconsistent goaltending, while Winnipeg, which has lost four straight, says it will focus on improving with its current group. Hellebuyck has a 2.58 career goals-against average and 45 shutouts.