Connor Hellebuyck is headed to New Jersey, and the trade has already set off a fast, loud reaction across the hockey world.
According to Puck Pedia, the Devils picked up $1.65 million in cap space in the deal, while sending Winnipeg a package built around Dawson Mercer, Nico Daws, Nick Bjugstad, Alexander Command, a ’29 second-round pick and a ’27 seventh-round pick. Hellebuyck, 33, is in year 3 of a 7-year deal carrying an $8.5 million cap hit.
Mercer is 24 and in year 3 of his 3-year, $4 million contract as a restricted free agent. Daws, 25, is in year 1 of a 2-year deal worth $1.1 million.
Bjugstad, 34, is in year 2 of a 2-year, $1.75 million contract. Command is also part of the return.
The immediate read from several around the game was that New Jersey had made a major swing in goal. Andy Graziano called it: “Devils going from Jake Allen and Nico Daws to Connor Hellebuyck is huge.”
Nick Alberga viewed the price Winnipeg received as a strong one: “Winnipeg got way more than I thought they would for Connor Hellebuyck. Solid deal for Kevin Cheveldayoff.”
The move also shifted the betting markets. The Devils went from 7/1 to 5/1 to win the division, from 14/1 to 10/1 to win the conference, from 35/1 to 22/1 for the President’s Trophy, and from 28/1 to 20/1 to win the Stanley Cup.
Not everyone saw the deal the same way, though. Matt Marchese took aim at the idea that New Jersey had been hiding its hand all along, saying: “People saying Sunny Mehta was fooling us all along or was playing poker clearly weren’t listening… He talked about the unpredictable nature of the goaltending position - then goes out and trades for one of the most predictable goalies in the last decade This isn’t difficult”
JFresh called the package “Very palateable for the Devils. Best goalie you could acquire for 12th overall, a middle six forward, a backup goalie, and a 2nd.”
On the Winnipeg side, there was plenty of attention on Command. Ken Wiebe wrote, “Looks like an outstanding addition to #NHLJets centre depth with addition of Alexander Command.”
Scott Wheeler described Command as “my 60th-ranked drafted NHL prospect on my summer list, ranked 18th on my list in the 2026 draft, and was the Devils’ top forward prospect. Strong-over-pucks two-way center with excellent contact skills who projects as a middle-six C in the NHL.”
Ryan Kennedy offered a similar scouting view: “In Alexander Command, Winnipeg gets a high-floor, mid-ceiling two-way player. I was surprised New Jersey took him as high as they did at the draft, but he should be able to play in the NHL for a long time once he develops.”
Byron Bader also praised the return, saying, “Mercer is a legit middle 6 C and Command, taken 12th overall in 2026, looks pretty, pretty good and is popping off early in the J20 in his D+1. And there’s some other pieces too.
Well done, Winnipeg Jets, well done.”
Not everyone was as convinced about the overall haul, with Montreal Hockey Now saying, “These package deals always seem like a king’s ransom until you start breaking down the individual value. Whole lot of mediocre assets, with a side order of potential for Command.”
NHL Watcher questioned the headline piece of the return, writing: “That was the return Chevaldayoff was holding out for? Dawson Mercer is a solid player, but he really hasn’t looked like the same guy since his 2022-23 season. He’s shown flashes here and there, but I don’t think he’s developed into the player many expected him to be.”
Graziano also weighed in on the Winnipeg side of the package, saying, “Mercer is a nice player, but bottom sixer for me. Command is a 50/50 prospect.
The picks are meh. I think the Devils did very well here and put themselves in a very solid position in the East, health considering.”
Mike McIntyre noted one important detail on Bjugstad: “One note about Nick Bjugstard. He’s a pending unrestricted free agent who is on IR. Underwent surgery for a torn pectoral muscle last month. 4-6 month recovery (so January to March).”
There was even a tax angle attached to Hellebuyck’s move. JockTaxes said a trade from Winnipeg to New Jersey would create about $265,000 in annual tax savings for Hellebuyck based on his $8.5 million AAV, and that if his legal domicile became his home state of Michigan, the savings could rise to more than $500,000.
The deal has clearly landed as one of the day’s biggest NHL stories, with New Jersey landing an elite goaltender and Winnipeg collecting a haul that immediately split opinion.
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Winnipeg general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff singled out Devils executive Sunny Mehta afterward, praising the way he handled the negotiations with a straightforward, serious approach. The comments arrived with the Heritage Classic looming, adding a little extra spotlight to a deal that already carried plenty of weight for both clubs and leaving New Jersey fans with one more reason to notice Mehtas role in the organizations front office work. [Read more 🡒]