The New Jersey Devils’ goaltending situation is already under the microscope, and it could get even more interesting if Connor Hellebuyck suddenly becomes available at the right price.
Right now, the Devils are rolling with Nico Daws, David Rittich, and Jake Allen, a setup that has plenty of people waiting to see if it holds up. Daws’ first preseason outing didn’t exactly calm the noise, even if one preseason game is far too small a sample to make a final call. It was only two goals against, but the debate around the Devils’ crease is going to linger until the group proves otherwise.
That is where Winnipeg enters the picture. The Jets are in camp without Hellebuyck after failing to answer his trade request, and the situation has gone sideways fast. Reports have suggested Winnipeg pushed too hard in asking for top draft picks or premium young NHL players, only to watch the market dry up after the NHL Draft and a wave of other moves around the league.
For now, Buffalo is the only team consistently mentioned as a trade possibility, but even that path looks complicated. One of the reported centerpieces is Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, and his limited no-trade clause, which went into effect on July 1st, appears to be putting the brakes on any deal between the Sabres and Jets.
Still, the Devils could be the team that changes the equation if the money comes down enough.
Devils GM Sunny Mehta has said he is comfortable with the current goalie group, but the salary math tells the real story. New Jersey is paying its three goalies a combined $3.9 million against the cap.
Hellebuyck, by comparison, is at $8.5 million. That kind of number is a nonstarter for the Devils, especially for a goalie entering his mid-30s with four years left on the contract.
But there is one version of a deal that would pull New Jersey back in: significant salary retention from Winnipeg.
If the Jets were willing to bring Hellebuyck down to $5 million per season on the cap, the Devils would have a lane. That is still a major ask, because it would leave Winnipeg carrying $3.3 million for no immediate roster help, but it could also bring back a better return.
And New Jersey has the pieces to make a real offer without gutting its roster. A package could include Daws, Dawson Mercer, and Seamus Casey, giving Winnipeg three young players right away.
Mercer was also part of the original ask from the Jets back in 2023. On top of that, the Devils could add one of their 2027 first-round picks.
It would be a steep price for a goalie in this age range, but Hellebuyck is not being compared to Jacob Markstrom here. The point is that Hellebuyck has been consistently elite, and that is exactly why a discounted version of his contract would make sense for New Jersey.
At $8.5 million, the Devils are out. At $5 million, they are in. And with the Jets facing a retool and a rising cap environment, the retention angle is the one thing that could keep this from being just another trade rumor.
In Other News...
Devils Fans Already Have A New Game-Day Frustration
With the NHL season about to open, Devils fans heading back to Prudential Center have one more thing to plan around before puck drop. The team rolled out a new bag policy this fall, limiting what can come through the doors and narrowing the range of items that will be allowed inside the building.
The restriction is tighter than what many arena-goers are used to, with bags larger than 4" x 6" x 1.5" now off limits. Parenting and medically necessary bags may still be permitted, but they will need to go through X-ray screening, adding another layer to the routine for fans trying to get in and settled before the action starts. [Read more 🡒]
Jake Allen May Be The Devils' Biggest Bet This Season
The Devils are making a fairly practical bet in goal this season, and it starts with Jake Allen stepping into the primary role. His numbers last year, a 2.74 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage in 37 games, were good enough to show he still has something left, and in a season where every roster decision matters, his affordable contract gives New Jersey more room to address other needs.
What makes Allen such an intriguing part of the plan is the balance between value and uncertainty. The Devils could chase bigger-name options in the crease, including Connor Hellebuyck, but doing so would come at a much steeper cost. For now, they appear willing to trust Allen to steady the net while the front office uses the savings elsewhere, a strategy that could help in more ways than one if the goaltending holds. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Face One Urgent Camp Issue Before Roster Decisions End
The Devils have settled into a familiar September rhythm at RWJBarnabas Health Hockey House, splitting camp into two groups and keeping the line combinations and defensive pairs largely intact. It is the kind of structure coaches like because it gives players a chance to build habits quickly, and for New Jersey the early focus has been on sharpening the details that can carry into the season.
The biggest point of emphasis has been the penalty kill, a unit that helped fuel the teams strong start to the 2025-26 season and remains a priority for Sheldon Keefe and his group. Brenden Dillon and Jonas Siegenthaler have both stressed the value of chemistry and communication in that part of the game, and with the opening night roster still to be finalized after the preseason slate, the Devils are using these sessions to sort out exactly who can be trusted when games start to matter. [Read more 🡒]