With training camp for the New Jersey Devils set to open in less than a week for rookies and then veterans, the roster picture is starting to sharpen - and so is the pressure. The Devils have added more depth up front, the competition for jobs is going to be fierce, and there’s still chatter that another move could be coming before the 2026-27 season begins.
That buzz is only getting louder around the goaltending situation. Connor Hellebuyck’s trade request became public at the end of August, and his agent, Ray Petkau, released a statement on his behalf after months of speculation around the Winnipeg Jets’ No. 1 goalie.
Statement from Connor Hellebuyck: pic.twitter.com/hW8sNw1LJi
- Ray Petkau (@RayPetkau) August 27, 2026
New Jersey has been mentioned as a leading candidate to land the three-time Vezina Trophy winner, and the fit is obvious on paper. The Devils currently have Jake Allen, Nico Daws, and David Rittich on the roster, but there’s no clarity yet on who starts or whether all three even make the final group. Daws, in particular, has never settled into a full-time backup role.
That uncertainty is why a Hellebuyck pursuit keeps coming back into the conversation. The cost would be steep, though. A proposed package from The Hockey Writers included Daws, Dawson Mercer, Seamus Casey, and a first-round pick.
Still, if New Jersey pulled it off, the impact would be immediate. Hellebuyck would give the Devils the kind of established starter they haven’t had in a long time, along with a level of stability in net that could change the entire feel of the team. Sunny Mehta has already shown he’s willing to swing big, and landing Hellebuyck would take an already strong first offseason as general manager to another level.
The Devils’ newest forward is already embracing the move. Luke Evangelista appeared on NHL Network on Thursday and said he had been getting ready to head back to Nashville when his agent called with news of the trade. New Jersey sent first- and second-round picks in the 2028 NHL Draft to bring him in, a move that adds another option to a top-six group that now looks much deeper.
“I’m so excited about the idea of coming to Jersey, playing for an elite squad, and making a playoff push,” said Evangelista. He also said his talks with Mehta and head coach Sheldon Keefe quickly eased any questions he had about where he fits.
The Devils have clearly targeted players they believe are underappreciated, and Evangelista fits that mold. He posted a career-high 56 points last season and has built a reputation as a sharp passer and smart creator.
“I pride myself on that vision and the hockey IQ, setting my teammates up for success…But I feel like becoming that dual threat, being able to have that playmaking option as well as being a threat to put the puck in the net, I think that’s just going to elevate my game.”
- Luke Evangelista
He said this season is about taking another step, helping his linemates and becoming more dangerous around the net. Projections have him lining up with either Nico Hischier or Jack Hughes, which gives him a prime chance to make an early impression with Devils fans.
Timo Meier is also drawing attention away from the rink. A new YouTube feature, “Greetings From Switzerland: Timo Meier Returns Home,” followed the Swiss winger back to Herisau, where he spends his summers reconnecting with family and decompressing after the NHL season.
The video shows Meier moving through the Swiss countryside and the village he calls home in the offseason. It also includes a tour of his jersey collection, from his first soccer sweater to his most recent Team Switzerland jersey, along with childhood photos and other memorabilia from his early hockey days.
His youth hockey camp, which just finished its seventh year, is part of that summer routine as well. Meier said being able to connect with young players means a great deal to him.
“As an athlete, you have that possibility to come in and make their face light up, it’s something that I don’t take for granted and try to really do it as much as I can. It means a lot to me,” said Meier.
The feature also includes appearances from his childhood best friend, trainers, teammates, parents and sister, all reinforcing the same message: Meier’s bond with the game runs deep, and he has never lost touch with where he came from.
In Other News...
Cutter Gauthiers Next Ducks Deal Could Change More Than Expected
As the Ducks work through what could be a significant extension for Cutter Gauthier, the broader cap picture around the league is starting to matter more than just Anaheims own ledger. Teams have been trying to find ways to keep young talent in place without boxing themselves in later, and Ivan Demidovs agent said the Montreal Canadiens already had one example of that in mind when Demidov accepted a team-friendly deal to give the club more financial flexibility.
For the Jets, that same squeeze can reverberate in an entirely different way. Winnipeg has been looking at the market for Connor Hellebuyck, but finding a partner is not as simple as putting an elite goalie out there and waiting for the calls, because trade capital is tight and no-trade clauses continue to narrow the field. The Ducks negotiations with Gauthier may be about one player, but the ripples from a big-money extension could shape how aggressive other teams can be when their own roster decisions come due. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Pre-Camp Skate Offered Early Clues Fans Will Want To See
A few Winnipeg Jets players and prospects got an early taste of camp this week at the Hockey for All Centre, where informal skating sessions offered the first on-ice look at some of the group ahead of the 2026-27 NHL training camp. Among the newcomers drawing attention were Mario Ferraro and Jack St. Ivany, while 2026 draft pick Viggo Bjrck was also part of the mix, giving fans a chance to start piecing together how the roster and pipeline may look once camp opens.
Elias Salomonsson was out there too, skating in a non-contact jersey as he works his way back from shoulder surgery, a sign the organization is still handling his workload with care. Not everyone was on the ice, though, and the absences were just as notable as the arrivals, with some regulars and offseason additions not spotted at the session, leaving a few early camp questions hanging in the air. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Have One Huge Question As Scoring Hope Meets Roster Doubt
The Jets outlook for 2026-27 is being built around familiar top-end pieces, with Mark Scheifele and Gabriel Vilardi again expected to carry much of the scoring load while prospects like Viggo Bjork add a little intrigue to the forward picture. The projected lineup has enough offensive talent to believe Winnipeg can stay competitive, and the roster preview suggests there is at least a workable blend of established production and upside if the right players take the expected steps.
The bigger issue is whether the rest of the roster will hold together long enough for that scoring to matter, especially with the goaltending picture still hanging in the balance. Winnipegs season projection lands in a middling range, but it comes with a clear warning: the final shape of the team could still change, and the ripple effects from those changes may end up deciding whether this group looks like a playoff push waiting to happen or just a roster still searching for its true identity. [Read more 🡒]