BY MIKE RIFKIN
One of the biggest questions in hockey has finally been answered. The Winnipeg Jets have traded goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for forwards Dawson Mercer, Nick Bjugstad, Alexander Command (12th overall pick in 2026), Goalie Nico Daws, 2027 seventh round pick and a 2029 second round pick. Hellebuyck requested a trade shortly after last season and the Jets decided to suspend him from the team until a deal got done.
Hellebuyck, 33 is signed through 2031 making 8.5 million dollars. Hellebuyck is a three time Vezina Trophy winner (best goalie), last winning the award in 2024-25 where he posted a 47-12-3 record with a 2.00 GAA and a .925 save percentage. Those numbers were so good that Hellebuyck also won the Hart Trophy (MVP). Last season wasn’t Hellebuyck’s best posting a 23-23-11 record with a 2.86 GAA and a .895 save percentage for the Jets. But where Hellebuyck was sensational last year was during Team USA’S run to the Gold Medal. Hellebuyck was 5-0-0 with a 1.18 GAA and .956 save percentage. The issue for Hellebuyck has been the postseason, where he has a 24-34 record with a 2.90 GAA and a .903 save percentage.
For the Jets this deal is about the present and the future. Dawson Mercer, who has four assists so far this season is 24 years old, and does have 103 goals (3 20 goal seasons) and 213 points in 420 games. Nick Bjugstad (currently on IR) is 34, and in his career has 163 goals and 339 points in over 800 games played. Bjugstad could center either your third or fourth line, while helping the Penalty Kill and might get some second unit Power Play time. Command is playing as a 18 year old in the Swedish under 20 league. He was ranked as the Devils third best prospect after being selected 12th overall in June. Daws has played in 59 games and is 26-26-2 with a 2.94 GAA and .897 save percentage.
Getting Hellebuyck is a massive move for new Devils GM Sunny Mehta. But the other thing it provides is a ton of pressure on a very good team. The Devils through 10 games currently sit in the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, but now an offense led by Jack Hughes now has an elite goalie to try to get Jersey over the hump. As for the Jets they did very well in the return for Hellebuyck and now the focus can be on playing hockey in the very competitive Central Division.
