Connor Hellebuyck's suspension with the Winnipeg Jets ended Friday, but the three-time Vezina Trophy winner was traded to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for forward Dawson Mercer, forward Nick Bjugstad, goaltender Nico Daws, prospect center Alexander Command, a 2027 seventh-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick. Hellebuyck won the Hart Trophy in 2025.
Devils general manager Sunny Mehta's path to this deal began in late June, when he traded Jacob Markstrom to the Florida Panthers for three forwards. That trade showed what it would take to land a proven No. 1 goalie, and it made acquiring Hellebuyck a priority. New Jersey opened the season 10 games deep with a goaltending tandem of Jake Allen and Daws, and the team entered Friday in the second and final Eastern Conference wild-card spot despite playing like a far better team than its standings suggest.
The Devils have one of the league's strongest defensive structures. They allowed the second-fewest high-danger scoring chances per 60 and hold a 59.74% shot share in 5-on-5 play, behind only the defending champion Carolina Hurricanes. Their problem has been goaltending, with a .880 team save percentage tied for 23rd in the league. Hellebuyck, who has faced the second-most shots in the NHL since 2021-22, could pair his skills with that defensive system and make New Jersey a real threat in the East and a Stanley Cup contender this season.
The long-term picture is also significant. Hellebuyck, 33, is signed for four more years at $8.5 million annually, which commits the Devils to building around homegrown talents such as Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes. Hellebuyck's missed training camp will likely require an adjustment period, but adding the best version of him gives New Jersey a clear shot at the goalie upgrade it has lacked.
Source: ESPN NHL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing