Jets trade Hellebuyck to Devils
Posted October 23, 2026 11:09 am.
Last Updated October 24, 2026 2:53 pm.
Connor Hellebuyck appears to be getting his wish.
The Winnipeg Jets traded the three-time Vezina Trophy winner to the New Jersey Devils for prospect Alexander Command, goalie Nico Daws, forwards Dawson Mercer and Nick Bjugstad, a 2029 second-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick, the teams announced on Friday.
Hellebuyck’s move to New Jersey ends a saga that dates back to the goalie’s trade request after last season.
The veteran netminder confirmed the request in August, then did not show up to training camp, prompting an unpaid suspension from the team that was set to end Friday, two days before Winnipeg hosts the Heritage Classic against the Montreal Canadiens.
Instead, Hellebuyck will head to a Devils team that sits 6-4-0 through 10 games this season.
We have acquired: ???? F Dawson Mercer ???? F Alexander Command ???? G Nico Daws ???? F Nick Bjugstad ???? and two draft picks https://t.co/vAN00bP0dO
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) October 23, 2026
The prize of Winnipeg’s return may be Command, the Swedish forward who was selected 12th overall by New Jersey at the draft in June. The 18-year-old is off to a fast start in the junior Swedish Hockey League this season, posting seven goals and five assists in six games for Orebro HK Jr., though he’s been held off the scoresheet in six games at the senior level.
Mercer, 24, has scored between 17 and 27 goals in each of his first five seasons, playing all 82 games in each instance. He has not scored yet this season, though he does have four assists.
Daws, 25, has appeared in 59 NHL games (including four this year) with a career .897 save percentage and 2.94 goals-against average.
Bjugstad, 34, has yet to appear in a game this season. The veteran centre registered two assists in 26 contests for the Devils last season.
Hellebuyck has been one of the most accomplished goaltenders of his generation, although playoff success eluded him in Winnipeg. Over his 11-year career, he has three Vezina Trophies, one Hart Trophy and an Olympic gold medal to go with a 345-208-55 record and 45 shutouts. Only Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy has more wins in that time.
Despite that success, the Jets have made just one Western Conference Final appearance with Hellebuyck. Winnipeg won the Presidents’ Trophy in 2025 but took a big step back last season, dropping from 116 points to 82.
Hellebuyck is entering the third season of a seven-year contract that carries a cap hit of $8.5 million. A Michigan native, Hellebuyck joins a growing trend of American superstars being traded away from Canadian NHL teams. That list includes Matthew Tkachuk going from the Flames to the Panthers in 2022, Quinn Hughes being traded from the Canucks to the Wild last December and, most recently, Brady Tkachuk being moved from the Senators to join his brother in Florida.
The Jets are 4-3-3 without Hellebuyck so far this season after dropping their fourth game in a row Thursday night in a 3-2 overtime defeat at Dallas. All four losses have been by one goal.
Former Edmonton goaltender Stuart Skinner has carried the bulk of the load in goal for the Jets this season. He has a 3-1-3 record with a 2.67 GAA and a .912 save percentage. Backup Clay Stevenson has posted a 1-2-0 record with a 3.08 GAA and .893 save percentage.
–with files from The Canadian Press
