Connor Hellebuyck traded to New Jersey as Winnipeg Jets end bitter standoff with US Olympic hero

Connor Hellebuyck finally has a new home after the Winnipeg Jets granted the three-time Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender’s trade request in a deal that sent him to the New Jersey Devils on Friday.

The Devils sent center Dawson Mercer, goalie Nico Daws, prospect Alexander Command, forward Nick Bjugstad, a 2029 second-round pick and a 2027 seventh-rounder to Winnipeg for Hellebuyck.

The long-awaited blockbuster trade ends months of speculation, a failed bid to move the US Olympic gold medal-winner and 2024-25 NHL MVP in June, and the Jets’ suspension of Hellebuyck for failing to report to training camp in a standoff that required the involvement of the league and the Players’ Association.

The 33-year-old Hellebuyck, who backstopped the US to Olympic gold at the Milan-Cortina Games in February, leaves Winnipeg after spending his entire 11-year career there. Hellebuyck joins Jack Hughes, who scored in overtime of the final to defeat Canada, with the Devils and immediately puts them closer to being Stanley Cup contenders.

When training camp opened, new Devils general manager Sunny Mehta said he was very comfortable with the team’s goaltending situation. Since then, Daws and Jake Allen have combined for an .880 save percentage, which ranks 23rd among 32 teams.

It was not immediately clear how soon Hellebuyck might be ready to play for his new team. He has been skating in his home state of Michigan while trade talks were ongoing.

Hellebuyck has five seasons left on a seven-year contract with an annual salary cap hit of $8.5m.

He becomes the latest high-profile American to leave Canada for the United States. In June, Ottawa dealt captain Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers, where he joined his brother Matthew. In December, the Vancouver Canucks traded star defenseman Quinn Hughes, a brother of Jack and teammate Luke, to the Minnesota Wild.

The process to trade Hellebuyck became messy, especially after the goalie went public with his request to leave Winnipeg in September. The Jets suspended the goalie for failing to report for camp in a disciplinary move that extended into the season, with Hellebuyck not getting paid.

The length of the suspension became an issue, with the league and union determining Hellebuyck would be allowed to rejoin the Jets on Friday. Instead, a move to New Jersey materialized ahead of Winnipeg hosting the outdoor Heritage Classic this weekend.

The post-Hellebuyck plans went into motion over the summer, with the Jets signing Stuart Skinner in free agency. Winnipeg claimed Clay Stevenson off waivers before the season began, and their combined .907 save percentage is seventh-best in the NHL.

The Jets were second-guessed for not dealing Hellebuyck in June, when teams had more options to prioritize salary cap space to make room to acquire the goalie. The Sabres were among the teams expressing interest in Hellebuyck and were preparing to package a deal that included swapping first-round draft picks – Buffalo had the No 4 selection and Winnipeg had the eighth.

The challenge for Winnipeg became finding a willing trade partner to acquire a goalie with a high price tag and a lengthy contract well after most teams had set their rosters and had little salary cap space to work with. Another question mark involved Hellebuyck’s age and track record of following regular-season success with a spotty playoff record.

After Hellebuyck went 9-8 in leading the Jets to the Western Conference finals in his playoff debut in 2018, he has gone 15-26 since, with the Jets advancing to the second round just twice in their next six playoff appearances. In four first-round exits, Hellebuyck had a combined 5-15 record.

The disparity between regular-season and postseason success was evident in 2024-25. Leading Winnipeg to the Presidents’ Trophy and winning the Hart Trophy as MVP, Hellebuyck recorded a career-best 47 wins, then went 6-7 in the playoffs as the Jets were eliminated by Dallas in the second round.

With a 345-208-55 regular-season record, Hellebuyck ranks 27th in career wins on the NHL list and fifth among US-born players. Among US-born goalies with 300 or more career starts, his .916 save percentage ranks fourth and his 2.58 goals-against average ranks sixth.