Connor Hellebuyck’s situation with the Winnipeg Jets is moving fast, and the latest noise points to the New Jersey Devils as the team that may land him. By Friday morning, trade chatter had picked up enough that the next 24 hours could bring a resolution, with multiple reports suggesting a deal was closing in.
NHL insider Darren Dreger first flagged the shift, writing on social media: “Busy day developing. Stay tuned,” after saying talks around Hellebuyck had escalated.
Elliotte Friedman then added that the saga was nearing its end, saying the Jets and Devils were likely working on a trade. Others have indicated a third team could still be part of the mix.
The timing matters, too. Hellebuyck’s suspension from the team was set to lift, meaning he could have rejoined Winnipeg. Reportedly, the Jets want to avoid that outcome, especially with the Heritage Classic coming this weekend.
The Devils were not the only club linked to the star goaltender. Carolina, Buffalo and Utah have all been mentioned, while the Kings and Sharks also surfaced in discussions.
The Rangers were also said to be a possible three-team conduit rather than a direct landing spot. That’s why the idea of New Jersey emerging here has caught people off guard.
Friedman also reported that Carolina had an offer on the table for Hellebuyck that did not include defenseman Alexander Nikishin.
Meanwhile, the Edmonton Oilers will be without Mattias Ekholm for at least a week after a scary collision against the Carolina Hurricanes. William Carrier knocked Ekholm down early in the third period, and Ekholm appeared to hit his head on the ice. He looked unsteady getting back to his feet and needed help returning to the dressing room.
There was immediate concern about a concussion, though no official diagnosis was given. Ekholm did not return to the game, but he was reportedly in the locker room when the team came back after Edmonton’s 6-5 shootout win.
Head coach Mike Babcock said Ekholm will miss at least one week, and Shakir Mukhamadullin is expected to suit up Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
In Vancouver, Brock Boeser didn’t hide his frustration after a 5-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. “I don’t know where the disconnect is,” Boeser said, as he questioned whether the players were actually buying into the system or whether something structural was holding the Canucks back.
Boeser called the repeated losses embarrassing and said the group is capable of playing better. Even with coaching and front-office changes, Vancouver’s problems have lingered, and that only adds more attention to where this season is headed.
His comments may also stir the trade talk again. Boeser is in the second year of a seven-year deal with a $7.25 million annual cap hit and holds a full no-movement clause, which makes any move complicated.
In Other News...
Hellebuyck Era Ends After Jets Breakup Reaches Its Inevitable Finish
The Connor Hellebuyck chapter in Winnipeg has closed in the most familiar way a star-goalie breakup can: with a trade that sends him to the New Jersey Devils and gives both sides a clean reset. For the Jets, it ends a tense stretch around a player who still had five seasons left on his contract and was long expected to anchor the crease for years to come.
New Jersey gets the proven starter it needed, while Winnipeg moves on with a package of players and draft capital that changes the look of the roster immediately. Hellebuycks departure had been building toward this point for a while, and the deal finally gives the Jets a resolution to a situation that had become impossible to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Devils May Be Closer Than Ever To A Massive Goalie Gamble
Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is suddenly at the center of a trade conversation that could reshape the goalie market, with multiple insiders reporting that the Devils and Jets are close to finalizing a deal. The talks have been described as substantial, with significant assets in play and enough moving parts that the framework could stretch beyond a simple one-for-one swap.
New Jersey has emerged as the most likely destination, which would make this one of the biggest roster swings of the offseason if it comes together. There is still plenty to sort out, though, and the structure of the agreement is not settled yet, with the possibility of a three-team setup and Winnipeg looking for scoring help coming back as the negotiation continues. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Fans Should Keep A Close Eye On One Hellebuyck Return
The Connor Hellebuyck trade to New Jersey brought a sizable haul back to Winnipeg, and the Jets return has quickly become a storyline worth tracking beyond the immediate roster pieces. Dawson Mercer and Nick Bjugstad add established depth, Nico Daws gives the club another goaltending option, and the draft capital helps widen the organizations runway. But the long-view interest in the deal is centered on 18-year-old Swedish center Alexander Command, a developmental swing the Jets believe could matter down the line.
Command was taken 12th overall and fits the kind of patient project that can look a lot better a few years from now than it does today. He has shown offensive ability at the junior level, but the next step is proving he can start producing in the Swedish Hockey League, where he has yet to register a point in his career so far. Winnipeg clearly sees a path for him to grow into a meaningful center, possibly alongside fellow Swede Viggo Bjrck, and that makes his progress one of the quieter but more intriguing subplots from the Hellebuyck return. [Read more 🡒]