The rocky relationship between the Winnipeg Jets and Connor Hellebuyck has officially come to an end.
The team announced Friday that Hellebuyck has been traded to the New Jersey Devils.
In return, Winnipeg will be receiving 24-year-old centre Dawson Mercer, 25-year-old goalie Nico Daws, 18-year-old centre Alexander Command, 34-year-old centre Nick Bjugstad, a 2029 2nd round pick and a 2027 7th round pick.
Mercer has played his entire career with the Devils, previously being taken 18th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft.
He had 20 goals and 22 assists last season for New Jersey. His best season came during the 2022-23 campaign when he had 27 goals and 29 assists for 56 points.
Daws has been a career backup goalie in New Jersey, splitting time between the big club and the AHL with the Utica Comets. So far this season he has played four games with the Devils, earning two wins and two losses with a 2.78 goal-against average.
Command was taken 12th overall in the 2026 NHL Draft by the Devils. The Swedish centreman has seven goals and five assists in six games with Orebro HK’s junior team of the Swedish League this year.
Meanwhile, Bjugstad has yet to suit up for the Devils this season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn left pectoral muscle. His recovery time is set at four to six months.
In 61 games last season, split between the Devils and the St. Louis Blues, Bjugstad had six goals and nine assists.
Hellebuyck was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in the fifth round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. During his time with the Jets, he won the Vezina Trophy for the league’s top goaltender three times and also won the Hart Trophy in 2025. This year, he backstopped the USA men’s hockey team to an Olympic gold medal.
In 625 NHL career games, Hellebuyck has a record of 345-208-55. He has recorded 45 shutouts, a 2.58 goals-against average, and a .916 save percentage.
In August, the Michigan native went public with a trade request, two seasons after signing a seven-year extension with the Jets.
The team suspended him for failing to report to training camp, which was set to lift on Oct. 23.
Finally moving on from trade saga
Speaking with CTV News Friday, Danielle Bain, TSN’s Winnipeg Bureau Reporter, said this trade is a massive weight lifted off everyone in the organization and the Jets fanbase.
“You could feel it the last week for sure. Players and staff are just so tired of being asked about the situation,” said Bain.
“As time has gone on and as this situation has dragged on, fans have become more and more upset with how things are going. So I think that fans are just as excited as the players and Hellebuyck that this is all finally coming to an end.”
As for how Hellebuyck will be received when he eventually makes his return to Winnipeg and Canada Life Centre, Bain said time will tell.
“He has given a lot to this organization over the years and he did enjoy being a Winnipeg Jet, there’s no questioning that. But it’s hard to know if he’ll get any type of warm reception, especially after we just saw what happened with Brady Tkachuk in Ottawa.”
Jets fans won’t have to wait long, as Hellebuyck and the Devils will be in Winnipeg on Nov. 10.
