Connor Hellebuyck Traded to the New Jersey Devils

The long saga is over.

Connor Hellebuyck has been traded to the New Jersey Devils for a package that includes Dawson Mercer, Alexander Command, Nick Bjugstad, Nico Daws, and two draft picks.

While the likes of Buffalo, Utah, and Carolina were reportedly in the mix for Hellebuyck, but New Jersey came in and got things done in mere hours.

“When Sunny (Mehta) got serious, he got serious real quick,” Kevin Cheveldayoff said about the trade coming together. “It was a real treat to deal with him; he’s very straightforward. There was no beating around the bush,” Cheveldayoff added.

Cheveldayoff’s presser regarding the trade notes that the Jets will carry three goaltenders for now.

In corresponding moves, the Jets placed Jack St. Ivany on waivers, moved Nick Bjugstad to the injured reserve, and loaned Brayden Yager to the Manitoba Moose.

This clears up two roster spots for the incoming contracts of Daws and Mercer, while also keeping another roster spot open for Elias Salomonsson.

Bjugstad was on long-term injured reserve for New Jersey, and the Jets don’t need any salary relief in that sense.

Alexander Command and Dawson Mercer are the two big bets in this trade, in my opinion. Mercer has plenty of upside as someone who can drive play and not quit at any moment. Mercer scored a career-high 56 points (27G, 29A) in the 2022-23 season and boasts a growing iron man streak in the NHL.

Command is a great centre prospect who is playing over in Sweden currently, and his 12 points (7G, 5A) make him an exciting part of the return. The 2026 12th overall pick was on Winnipeg’s radar if they didn’t get Viggo Bjorck, according to Kevin Cheveldayoff.

Nico Daws is a piece in this trade that can go either way to me. I say constantly: goaltenders are voodoo, and he has the opportunity of a lifetime in a Canadian market that could use a great young goaltender alongside Stuart Skinner and Clay Stevenson.

Whether or not all of these pieces fall into place is something to watch.

The Devils aren’t in Winnipeg until November 10th. That’s their lone meeting at Canada Life Centre for the season, unless both teams make the Stanley Cup Finals.

New Jersey got their goaltender to capitalize on their window. Connor Hellebuyck is a former 2012 fifth-round pick (130th overall) and has 625 games, 345 wins, 45 shutouts, a 2.58 goals-against average, a .916 save percentage, three Vezinas, two Jennings, and a Hart Trophy.

In Winnipeg’s case, they get the Newfoundland-born forward to immediately jump into their top-six, and they get younger in the trade.