The Connor Hellebuyck saga has ended. Earlier today, the Winnipeg Jets and New Jersey Devils linked up for a blockbuster trade involving Hellebuyck. Here are the full details:
Devils receive:
Jets receive:
The Devils seemed like an afterthought in the Hellebuyck sweepstakes, with teams like the Utah Mammoth and Buffalo Sabres thought to be frontrunners. But Devils GM Sunny Mehta seems to operate in the shadows. As for the Jets, they didn’t get fleeced, but their return may seem a bit underwhelming.
What has plagued the Devils early this season? Goaltending. Jake Allen and Daws had struggled before the trade. Their numbers rank in the bottom five of the NHL in terms of goals saved above expected. It was one thing that could hold the Devils back from being legit contenders in the Eastern Conference.
That should change with Hellebuyck. Even though he had a down season in 2025-26, he still saved one goal above expected and was a league-average netminder. That’s a down season for him, and injuries may have been a factor. He did miss a few weeks with a knee injury before the Olympics.
One would expect Hellebuyck to rebound once he takes the ice for the Devils, even if he doesn’t reach an...