The drawn out battle between the Winnipeg Jets and Connor Hellebuyck is over, with the Vezina winning goaltender being traded to the New Jersey Devils for a big package that contains mid-line players, a big-time prospect, and draft picks.
Rumors had been swirling for the majority of Friday that the Devils were going to be the ones to land Hellebuyck, but details of the deal were finally broken by Elliot Friedman.
New Jersey Devils receive:
- G Connor Hellebuyck
Winnipeg Jets receive:
- C Dawson Mercer
- C Alexander Command
- G Nico Daws
- F Nick Bjugstad
- 2029 2nd round pick
- 2027 7th round pick
The centerpiece of this deal for the Jets is Alexander Command. The No. 12 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, Command is a big-time upside center who could develop into a 2nd line player. It’s unclear if he has first-line ability, but this is a very solid prospect who is currently developing in Sweden. Command showed incredible flashes for Örebro HK U20, registering seven goals and five assists in six games to start the season, and as a result, the 18-year-old was recently called up to Örebro HK’s senior roster — where he has yet to register a point in limited ice time.
Dawson Mercer is a reliable back-six forward. The 24-year-old has never really reached his full potential since the Devils took him with their 1st round pick in 2020, meaning the Jets are hoping some development can happen here is well.
Nico Daws will help replace Hellebuyck in net. He’s a decent enough rotational goalie, but nothing incredibly special — unless Winnipeg is able to unlock something he hasn’t been able to achieve prior.
The most fascinating part of this trade is what the Devils are clearly trying to achieve. There is obviously an impetus to do whatever it takes to keep Jack Hughes happy, and landing Hellebuyck is likely part of a larger plan to make a Florida Panthers-esque move to try to acquire Quinn Hughes from the Minnesota Wild, or wait until free agency to make a mammoth deal to team up the brothers. There was a significant risk of the inverse happening, with the Wild trying to make a play to get Jack — so this is a shot across the bow to sell everyone involved on the idea that New Jersey is the place to team up, not Minnesota.
If this is able to work out, and the Devils are able to make a Hughes reunion happen because they landed their Team USA goaltender, then this will go down as a landmark trade that alters the path of the Devils. If they don’t, and somehow Jack Hughes demands a trade, then this will be a lot of sunken resources into an obviously great goaltender, but without much structure to become a winner around him.
In other words: Brace yourself, because this could only be the start.