Oct 23, 2026 · 13 min
Hellebuyck trade reshapes Devils and Jets
BONUS: Reacting to Connor Hellebuyck Being Traded to the New Jersey Devils
The deal could transform New Jersey’s goaltending and defensive outlook while leaving Winnipeg to justify its return and rebuild its crease.
- 1New Jersey adds an elite goaltender while betting its defensive structure can maximize Hellebuyck’s impact.
- 2Winnipeg’s return centers on Dawson Mercer, prospects, and picks, but the package lacks a current first-round selection.
- 3The Jets now rely on Stewart Skinner while weighing whether a recovery can keep their playoff hopes alive.
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The sharpest tension comes from weighing Winnipeg’s return against the possibility that Hellebuyck’s value was difficult to maximize in a trade.
The brief
New Jersey’s blockbuster acquisition of Connor Hellebuyck changes the Devils’ goaltending picture and raises the stakes for a team building around defensive strength.
The hosts argue that Hellebuyck could make New Jersey more attractive to Quinn Hughes, while questioning whether investing heavily in a goaltender is the right roster-building bet.
Winnipeg’s return includes Dawson Mercer, Alexander Cormier, Nico Daws, Nick Bjugstad, and draft picks, but the absence of a current first-rounder makes the value difficult to defend.
The Jets’ post-trade plan turns to Stewart Skinner in goal, with the hosts considering whether Winnipeg can recover from its poor stretch and mount a playoff push.
The closing question is whether Hellebuyck could disappoint in New Jersey, though the hosts expect the Devils’ defensive environment to support him alongside Jake Allen.
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