Jets Trade Connor Hellebuyck to Devils for Mercer, Daws, Bjugstad and Two Picks
The Winnipeg Jets traded goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to the New Jersey Devils on Friday for Dawson Mercer, Nick Bjugstad, Alexander Command, Nico Daws and two draft picks.
The teams announced the deal on Friday, October 23, 2026. The Devils confirmed it on X, writing “Connor Hellebuyck is a New Jersey Devil.”
The return to Winnipeg
Winnipeg receives New Jersey’s second-round pick in the 2029 NHL Draft and the Devils’ seventh-round pick in 2027, per the Jets’ announcement. The package is headlined by Dawson Mercer, the 24-year-old forward the Devils selected 18th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft. Through 420 career regular-season games he has 213 points on 103 goals and 110 assists, with four assists in 10 games this season.
The Devils did not say when Mercer, Bjugstad, Command and Daws report to Winnipeg, or when the trade takes effect.
Winnipeg has been adding around its crease and blue line: the Jets claimed goaltender Clay Stevenson off waivers from Washington, and defenseman Jacob Trouba agreed to terms on October 22, one day before the trade.
The suspension ends as the trade lands
Hellebuyck requested a trade out of Winnipeg over the summer. The Jets suspended him after he failed to report to training camp, and the suspension was due to end the day the trade was announced.
Hellebuyck is a three-time Vezina Trophy winner, and he is reportedly set to count $8.5 million per season against the Devils’ cap. New Jersey entered the day 6-4-0 with a .876 team save percentage.