Devils Acquire Hellebuyck; Jets Get Mercer and Six-Asset Package
New Jersey acquired goaltender Connor Hellebuyck from Winnipeg. The Jets received Dawson Mercer, Alexander Command, Nico Daws, Nick Bjugstad, a 2029 second-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick. Hellebuyck, a three-time Vezina winner, carries an $8.5 million cap hit.
New Jersey adds a goalie with three Vezinas and a 2024-25 Hart Trophy, plus an $8.5 million cap charge. Hellebuyck’s Winnipeg tenure ended after a 24-day suspension; he forfeited $927,835.05 after asking out and missing camp. Last season he posted a 23-23-11 record, 2.86 GAA and .895 save percentage.
Winnipeg’s return centers on Mercer, a 24-year-old former No. 18 pick who scored 20 goals last season and is set for restricted free agency. The Jets also get Swedish center Alexander Command’s unsigned rights, Daws through 2027-28, Bjugstad on an expiring deal, and two New Jersey draft choices.
The trade could shift fan attention and local sports spending in both markets, as New Jersey supporters may rally around a marquee goalie while Winnipeg fans adjust to a rebuild-oriented return. It may also affect fantasy hockey, media coverage, and merchandise demand. For players and families, the move illustrates how quickly careers and community ties can change, though the broader social effects are likely modest and largely confined to hockey audiences.