The drawn-out saga comes to an end in Winnipeg as the Connor Hellebuyck trade has finally become reality. Hellebuyck will be heading to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Dawson Mercer, Alexander Command, Nico Daws, Nick Bjugstad, a 2029 second-round pick, and a 2027 seventh-round pick. A bold move for Sunny Mehta and the Devils, but with the assets they are giving away, does it actually make their team better? Let us discuss.
We have acquired:
🏒 F Dawson Mercer
🏒 F Alexander Command
🏒 G Nico Daws
🏒 F Nick Bjugstad
🔢 and two draft picks pic.twitter.com/vAN00bP0dO— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) October 23, 2026
Connor Hellebuyck Trade Happens as His Team Suspension Ends
As Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported last week, Hellebuyck was set to have his team suspension from the Winnipeg Jets end today. Given that a reconciliation between team and player was unlikely, it would have been a bad idea to welcome Hellebuyck back into the Winnipeg dressing room. Thus, a Connor Hellebuyck trade needed to be facilitated quickly. It has been a tough go as of late for the Jets after a good start, but they are getting solid goaltending from Stuart Skinner, which makes the Hellebuyck trade a bit easier to take.
Devils GM Sunny Mehta Makes His First Bold Blockbuster Trade
The Devils were not messing around here, as they gave up a lot in order to get Hellebuyck to bolster their goaltending, which has been middling so far.
Dawson Mercer, 24 years old, is a solid middle-six player who has had decent seasons up to this point. He had 20 goals and 22 assists for 42 points in 82 games last season. This season so far, he has had four assists in 10 games. Mercer was New Jersey’s first-round pick (18th overall) in 2020. He is a versatile forward who is smart and durable and can play in many situations, including physical situations, as well as on the penalty kill.
A big piece of this trade has to be Alexander Command, who was the 12th overall pick in 2026 for the Devils. He was ranked 21st in Last Word on Hockey’s draft rankings and was praised for his explosive speed and high-end compete level. The 18-year-old is projected to be a top-six to top-nine forward, but young prospects will always have the potential to be something more.
Nico Daws is the goaltender the Jets picked up in this trade and could be the backup now behind Skinner. Daws is a 25-year-old who has played four games for the Devils this season, posting a 2-2-0 record with a 2.78 goals-against average and an .874 save percentage. He was New Jersey’s third-round pick (84th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft and has compiled a 26-26-1 record in 59 career NHL games and posted a shutout, a 2.94 goals-against average and an .897 save percentage.
Nick Bjugstad is a veteran centre who is recovering from surgery at the moment. The 34-year-old recorded nine points in 61 games last season for the St. Louis Blues and New Jersey Devils. A decent depth piece for the Jets to acquire.
The Jets still have roughly $8 million in cap space after this transaction, according to PuckPedia.
Does the Connor Hellebuyck Trade Improve the Devils’ Outlook?
Hellebuyck will likely improve the Devils’ goaltending, but to say it will certainly make them a contender is jumping the gun. They are giving up prime assets for an aging goaltender who has not seen game action in over six months. However, the price may have depreciated over time, and GM Sunny Mehta capitalized on the opportunity, not giving up any future first-round picks in the process. Time will tell, but this may have been a smart move.
The Last Word
Finally, the Hellebuyck saga in Winnipeg has come to an end. With that drama over, the Jets can now focus on the present, making sure they bounce back from last season. They may need goaltending help in the future, but Skinner could hold the fort for a while. For the Devils, the Connor Hellebuyck trade is a high-risk, potentially high-reward trade for them, as they needed an upgrade in goaltending, and Mehta got it done. The Devils could be going all-in this season, but time will tell what their direction holds after the Connor Hellebuyck trade.
Main photo by: Terrence Lee-Imagn Images
More News & Notes from Around the NHL:
The Linus Ullmark Injury News Isn’t So Bad for Ottawa Senators
Nick Suzuki Injury Ends Iron Man Streak and Leaves Huge Hole for Montreal Canadiens
Vancouver Canucks on the Radar: Week of October 20, Eastern Roadie Woes