The Jets Traded Connor Hellebuyck to the Devils on the Day His Suspension Was Set to End

By The Arena Staff

NEWARK, N.J., Oct. 23, 2026 — Connor Hellebuyck's standoff with the Winnipeg Jets ended Friday the only way it could. The Jets traded the three-time Vezina Trophy winner to the New Jersey Devils, both teams announced, on the same day his team suspension was scheduled to end and he was expected to report, NHL.com and Sportsnet reported.

In return, Winnipeg gets forward Dawson Mercer, goalie Nico Daws, forward Nick Bjugstad, the rights to 2026 first-round pick Alexander Command, New Jersey's second-round pick in the 2029 NHL Draft and its seventh-round pick in 2027, according to releases from both teams.

## How We Got Here

Hellebuyck, 33, asked for a trade during the offseason and went public with the request before training camp. "My position has not changed. I believe moving on is the best path forward for me and my family," he said in an Aug. 27 statement released by his agent, according to NHL.com.

He didn't report to camp, and the Jets suspended him starting Sept. 16, NHL.com reported. Winnipeg has gone 4-3-3 without him, mostly with Stuart Skinner in net.

Earlier Friday, ESPN reported that the two teams were in advanced talks. About an hour later the Devils made it official: "RAISE HELLE! Connor Hellebuyck is a New Jersey Devil," the team posted on X.

## What New Jersey Gets

Hellebuyck won the Vezina as the NHL's top goalie in 2019-20, 2023-24 and 2024-25, and he has also won the Hart Trophy as league MVP, according to the Devils and NHL.com. In February he led Team USA to Olympic gold, going 5-0 with a 1.18 goals-against average and a .956 save percentage, NHL.com reported. The Devils' release says that was the first U.S. Olympic hockey gold in 46 years.

He leaves Winnipeg as the franchise's all-time leader among goalies in games played (625), starts (615), wins (345) and shutouts (45), per NHL.com. He has five seasons left on a seven-year, $59.5 million contract that carries an $8.5 million average annual value.

There's a question mark, too. Last season was the worst of his career by save percentage: 23-23-11 with a 2.86 goals-against average and a .895 save percentage, as the Jets missed the playoffs, NHL.com reported.

New Jersey is 6-4-0, but its .876 team save percentage is tied for 23rd in the league, according to NHL.com. In an analysis for the league's site, Mike G. Morreale wrote that the deal is the clearest sign yet that first-year general manager Sunny Mehta believes the Devils can win the Stanley Cup now, and noted that New Jersey got the deal done without giving up a first-round pick.

## What Winnipeg Gets

Mercer, 24, has three 20-goal seasons in his first five years and has never missed a game in six NHL seasons, NHL.com reported. Command, 18, was the No. 12 pick in the 2026 draft and is playing in Sweden for Orebro, according to the Jets. Daws, 25, adds goaltending depth, and Bjugstad, 34, is recovering from surgery.

"Very comfortable with what we accomplished here. Certainly wish I could have done it four months ago," Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said Friday, in remarks posted by Sportsnet. He also thanked Hellebuyck: "We've had lots of good memories and I choose to remember those."

## What's Next

The Jets host the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday at the Heritage Classic, an outdoor game in Winnipeg. It's unclear when Hellebuyck will make his Devils debut, NHL.com reported. One date is already circled: New Jersey plays in Winnipeg on Nov. 10.

> What We Know
> - The deal: Jets send G Connor Hellebuyck to the Devils
> - Jets get: F Dawson Mercer, G Nico Daws, F Nick Bjugstad, the rights to F Alexander Command, a 2029 second-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick
> - Why now: Hellebuyck requested a trade and was suspended Sept. 16 after not reporting to camp. The suspension was set to end Friday
> - Hellebuyck's résumé: 3 Vezina Trophies, a Hart Trophy, and 2026 Olympic gold with Team USA
> - Contract: $8.5 million a year, through 2030-31
> - Circle it: Devils at Jets, Nov. 10

Reported by NHL.com, AP News, Sportsnet, with details from the Devils and Jets announcements and NHL.com's analysis.

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<small>Photo: Jenn G, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 (2024 file photo).</small>