- The Devils acquired goalie Connor Hellebuyck from the Jets
- Winnipeg gets Dawson Mercer, Alexander Command, Nico Daws, Nick Bjugstad and two picks
- Read below for the full breakdown, contracts and what comes next
Connor Hellebuyck is a New Jersey Devil.
The Jets announced the trade Friday morning, ending the standoff on the same day his suspension was set to expire. Winnipeg sends the three-time Vezina winner to New Jersey and gets six assets back.
Elliotte Friedman was first to report that the two teams were working on a deal, about an hour and a half before it became official. Here is our first report on the talks.
| Asset | Position | Contract |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Devils receive | ||
| Connor Hellebuyck | G | $8.5M cap hit |
| Winnipeg Jets receive | ||
| Dawson Mercer | F | $4M cap hit |
| Alexander Command | F | Unsigned 2026 pick |
| Nico Daws | G | $1.1M cap hit |
| Nick Bjugstad | F | $1.75M cap hit |
| 2029 second-round pick | Pick | Devils’ own |
| 2027 seventh-round pick | Pick | Devils’ own |
Check out our full breakdown of the trade:
Hellebuyck Trade Details: What the Jets Get
Dawson Mercer is the headliner. The 24-year-old forward was the No. 18 pick in 2020 and scored 20 goals last season. He carries a $4 million cap hit and is headed for restricted free agency in July.
Alexander Command is the prospect. New Jersey took the Swedish center 12th overall at the 2026 draft, and he is still playing for Orebro in Sweden. The Jets are getting his rights because he has not signed an NHL contract.
Nico Daws gives Winnipeg a young goalie on a $1.1 million cap hit through 2027-28. Nick Bjugstad is a 34-year-old forward on an expiring $1.75 million deal. He is injured, has not played this season and is on long-term injured reserve.
The picks are New Jersey’s own second-rounder in 2029 and seventh-rounder in 2027.
What the Devils Get
New Jersey gets a Hart Trophy winner and three-time Vezina winner. Hellebuyck won the Vezina in 2019-20, 2023-24 and 2024-25, and took the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 2024-25. He also went 5-0 with a 1.18 goals-against average for Team USA at the 2026 Olympics.
Last season was a rough one. He went 23-23-11 with a 2.86 GAA and .895 save percentage as the Jets missed the playoffs. He leaves as the franchise leader in games played (625), wins (345) and shutouts (45).
He lost $927,835.05 in salary during the 24-day suspension after he requested a trade and skipped training camp. Check out how the Devils welcomed him:
The Devils (6-4-0) had been splitting starts between Jake Allen and Daws, and it is unclear when Hellebuyck makes his debut. Winnipeg has leaned on Stuart Skinner, who is 3-1-3, while Clay Stevenson has started three games.
Winnipeg plays the Canadiens in the Heritage Classic on Sunday. Hellebuyck’s first chance to face his old team comes Nov. 10, when the Devils visit Winnipeg.
