Connor Hellebuyck Traded to Devils in Blockbuster Deal
The Winnipeg Jets have traded three-time Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to the New Jersey Devils, ending one of the NHL’s longest-running trade sagas. The blockbuster deal was completed on Friday, October 23, 2026, the same day Hellebuyck’s suspension for failing to report to training camp came to an end.
The Jets sent the 33-year-old American netminder to New Jersey in exchange for forwards Dawson Mercer and Nick Bjugstad, goaltender Nico Daws, forward prospect Alexander Command, a 2027 seventh-round draft pick and a 2029 second-round draft pick. The return gives Winnipeg a mix of NHL-ready talent and futures for a player who had made clear he wanted out.
Months of Drama End in Newark
Hellebuyck publicly requested a trade out of Winnipeg in August 2026, saying through his agent’s social media account that he believed “moving on is the best path forward for me and my family.” When he failed to report to training camp, the Jets suspended him without pay, a standoff that lasted 24 days and cost him more than $927,000 in forfeited salary.
The Jets had attempted to move the former NHL MVP in June, but a deal could not be completed at the time. Talks intensified this week as Hellebuyck’s suspension neared its end, and the trade was finalized on Friday, hours after he became eligible to rejoin the team.
A Stanley Cup Push for New Jersey
Hellebuyck arrives in New Jersey as one of the most decorated goaltenders in the league. The 2026 U.S. Olympic gold medalist won his third Vezina Trophy and the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP in 2025, posting a 47-12-3 record with a league-best 2.00 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage.
He joins a Devils roster headlined by Jack Hughes — who scored the overtime winner against Canada in the Olympic final in Milan-Cortina — and immediately strengthens New Jersey’s goaltending, which has ranked 23rd among 32 teams in save percentage this season. The Devils acquired one of the game’s premier netminders without surrendering a first-round pick, a move that instantly elevates their Stanley Cup credentials.
What Winnipeg Gets Back
The Jets acquire Dawson Mercer, a 24-year-old forward and three-time 20-goal scorer who played all 82 games last season, scoring 20 goals with 42 points. Nick Bjugstad brings veteran size to the bottom six, while Alexander Command — New Jersey’s 12th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft — is one of Sweden’s most promising young centers, posting 44 points in 30 games with Orebro last season. Goalie Nico Daws provides depth in net, and the two draft picks add future value.
With Hellebuyck gone, Winnipeg will turn to its remaining goaltenders, including newly acquired Daws, alongside Stuart Skinner and Clay Stevenson.
What Comes Next
Hellebuyck will make his return to Winnipeg on November 10, when the Devils visit the Jets — a game now circled on the NHL calendar. He is in the third season of a seven-year, $59.5 million contract carrying an $8.5 million annual salary cap hit, with a full no-movement clause that gave him control over any destination. He is signed with New Jersey through 2031.
For the latest NHL trade news and analysis, also read our coverage of NBA season openers heating up and the Thunder’s dominant start.
Sources: NBC Sports, Reuters, USA Today, The Hockey News — all reporting October 23, 2026.