Jets trade star goalie Connor Hellebuyck to Devils after long hold out

In exchange, the Jets are receiving center Alexander Command, the 12th overall pick from the NHL Draft back in June, forward Dawson Mercer (24), goalie Nico Daws (25), forward Nick Bjugstad (34), a 2027 seventh-round pick, and a 2029 second-round pick, according to multiple NHL insiders.

Daws is 2-2-0 in net for the Devils this season with an .874 save percentage and 2.78 goals-against average. He hasn't started more than four games in an NHL season since 2023-2024 and went 17-16-8 with the Utica Comets (AHL) last year, posting an .892 SV% and 2.78 GAA.

Mercer has four assists in 10 games and a career-low average ice time (15:06). Heading into this year, Mercer has played in every single regular season game in each of his first five years in the league (all with the Devils). He had 20 goals and 22 assists last season.

The veteran Bjugstad, currently in his 14th season, now heads to his sixth team in the past four years. He only played in five NHL games last year and is still recovering from a torn left pectoral muscle.

The three-time Vezina Trophy winner Hellebuyck was suspended indefinitely by the Jets to start the season after holding out of training camp. Hellebuyck initially requested a trade during the offseason, despite entering the third season of his seven-year, $59.5 million contract with the Jets that he originally signed in 2023. 

However, that suspension is now over for Hellebuyck as he will be joining a 6-4-0 New Jersey Devils team that has won back-to-back recently.

Meanwhile, Winnipeg currently stand at 4-3-3 so far this season without him.

Hellebuyck put up career numbers during the 2024-2025 season, leading the league with a 2.00 goals-against average, eight shutouts, and 47 wins. But he had a down year this past season, posting a career-worst .895 save percentage and a 2.86 GAA, the highest since the 2020-2021 season (2.97). 

The 32-year-old's highlight from this past season was when he led Team USA to their first Winter Olympics gold medal since the iconic 'Miracle on Ice' game at Lake Placid in 1980. 

In five games during the Olympics earlier this year, Hellebuyck led all goaltenders in both save percentage (.956) and GAA (1.18). He capped off his historic Olympic performance with 41 saves on 42 shots in the USA's 2-1 win over Canada for the gold. 

However, with five years left on his contract with the Jets, Hellebuyck and his camp are receiving shots from all angles. ESPN's Michael Wilbon said that he would, "Call him and his agent and say, ‘We signed you to this deal. You want a trade? Go to hell.’”

Since Hellebuyck took over the starting goalie role in 2016, the Jets have made the Stanley Cup Playoffs in seven of the 10 years leading up to this season. The furthest they got was the 2018 Conference Finals, when they lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games.

Hellebuyck has spent his entire 11-year career with the Jets as he heads into his 12th with the historic franchise. During his time there, he has led the team to a 345-208-55 record, including a 56–22–4 run in the 2024-2025 season that earned them their first-ever Presidents Cup. 

Hellebuyck put out a statement back in August stating: "I believe moving on is the best path forward for me and my family."

Now, he and his family will be heading to Jersey.