New Jersey Devils acquire Vezina winner Connor Hellebuyck in trade with Winnipeg

The New Jersey Devils completed a trade with the Winnipeg Jets on Friday, bringing veteran goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to the roster. Hellebuyck, a three-time Vezina Trophy winner and former Hart Trophy recipient, arrives on a five-year contract worth $8.5 million per year. In exchange, New Jersey sent forwards Dawson Mercer and Nick Bjugstad, goalie Nico Daws, the rights to unsigned draft prospect Alexander Command, a second-round pick in the 2029 NHL Draft and a seventh-round pick in the 2027 draft.

The move addresses the Devils’ defensive shortcomings; the team currently ranks near the bottom of the league in save percentage despite a strong offensive output. Hellebuyck posted a 2.00 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage in the 2024-25 season, leading the NHL with 47 wins. Although his 2025-26 campaign saw a decline, the organization believes his prior performance signals a return to elite form.

General manager Sunny Mehta, who previously emphasized caution in goaltending investments, said the acquisition provides a proven option that reduces uncertainty at the position. > "We have a role to play in front of our goaltenders to make their job easier and I think we've held fort there for sure recently," said team spokesperson Jeff Keefe after a recent win.

The Devils, sitting fourth in the Metropolitan Division with a 6-4-0 record, hope the addition of Hellebuyck, alongside a defensive core that includes Luke Hughes, Dougie Hamilton, Brett Pesce, Jonas Siegenthaler and Johnathan Kovacevic, will translate defensive effort into consistent results. The trade also signals the franchise’s intent to build a contender around its young talent, including brothers Jack and Quinn Hughes, who both played with Hellebuyck on the Olympic gold-medal-winning Team USA.