A long saga has come to an end as the Winnipeg Jets officially dealt Connor Hellebuyck to the New Jersey Devils on Friday morning.

In return for their star goaltender, the Jets received 24-year-old Dawson Mercer, 2026 12th-overall pick Alexander Command, 25-year-old netminder Nico Daws, veteran centre Nick Bjugstad, a 2029 second-round pick, and a 2027 seventh-round pick.

The Jets have been looking to trade Hellebuyck since the 33-year-old informed the team that he would like to be traded. Hellebuyck chose not to report to training camp, leading to the Jets suspending him. According to multiple reports, that suspension was due to end this week, but the Jets clearly had no interest in allowing Hellebuyck to return to the team, and for good reason.

Hellebuyck signed a seven year contract to remain with the Jets long-term back in 2023. The contract carried a cap hit of $8.5 million and a full no-move clause until 2027-28, Hellebuyck’s trade protection converts to a 10-team approved trade list. That means that Hellebuyck had full control over where he went in a trade, putting the Jets in a very tough position.

In the end, the Jets get a young NHL-ready forward in Mercer, a very intriguing centre prospect in Command, an interesting goaltender in Daws, a veteran centre who will provide them with some depth and experience down the middle in Bjugstad, and two draft picks, one of which will be in the top 64 of the draft, in exchange for their star goaltender.

Winnipeg originally selected Hellebuyck in the fifth round of the 2012 NHL Draft with the 130th overall pick. A three-time Vezina Trophy winner as the NHL’s top goaltender, Hellebuyck also took home the Hart Trophy, awarded to the league’s MVP, in the 2024-25 campaign.

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