The rocky relationship between the Winnipeg Jets and Connor Hellebuyck has officially come to an end. The team announced Friday that Hellebuyck has been traded to the New Jersey Devils. In return, Winnipeg will be receiving 24-year-old centre Dawson Mercer, 25-year-old goalie Nico Daws, 18-year-old centre Alexander Command, 34-year-old centre Nick Bjugstad, a 2029 2nd round pick and a 2027 7th round pick. “Very comfortable with what we accomplished here over the period of time,” said Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff. “Certainly wish I could have done it five or four months ago, whatever. When the opportunity first started, we were looking, but here we are today.” Hellebuyck was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in the fifth round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. During his time with the Jets, he won the Vezina Trophy for the league’s top goaltender three times and also won the Hart Trophy in 2025. In 625 NHL career games, Hellebuyck secured 345 wins, including 45 shutouts, a 2.58 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage. He also helped backstop Team U.S.A. to a gold medal at the winter Olympics this year. He visited the White House following the victory and met with President Donald Trump – receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His visit sparked backlash at the time as Canada and the United States were at the start of a tense trade war, which spilled beyond the political realm. Following a private trade request to the Jets at the end of last season, the Michigan native went public with a trade request in August, just two seasons removed from signing a seven-year extension in Winnipeg. As a deal still didn’t come to fruition as training camp started, Hellebuyck failed to report, resulting in the team suspending him, which was set to lift on Oct. 23. Cheveldayoff said he is happy the deal is done and he can finally get some sleep. However, he noted this situation hasn’t been fun. “At the end of the day, Connor made his choice to do how he chose to do it and as an organization, we just had to act accordingly and we did,” he said. “He asked for a trade, we told him we would do our best to make it happen.” With the trade being finalized, Cheveldayoff said it’s now time to move forward and focus on the season at hand. He said he is proud of how the team has played through the first 10 games of the schedule and is hopeful the new pieces will help push the team to the next level. “This part’s over here. This is onward now. This is the Winnipeg Jets and the 23 guys that are going to be in that locker room. That’s all we care about.” A look at who the Jets acquired Mercer has played his entire career with the Devils, previously being taken 18th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft. He had 20 goals and 22 assists last season for New Jersey. His best season came during the 2022-23 campaign when he had 27 goals and 29 assists for 56 points. “I think Dawson Mercer is going to be someone that really fits in,” said Cheveldayoff. “The role that he’s going to play for us is not the role that he’s been playing this last year. It’ll be more akin to the roles he’s had over the first courses of his years.” He feels spending time around players like Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor will help bring out the best version of his game moving forward. Daws has been a career backup goalie in New Jersey, splitting time between the big club and the AHL with the Utica Comets. So far this season he has played four games with the Devils, earning two wins and two losses with a 2.78 goal-against average. Cheveldayoff said the team will take some time to figure out what to do with the goalie situation, as they currently have three active goalies on the roster. Command was taken 12th overall in the 2026 NHL Draft by the Devils. The Swedish centreman has seven goals and five assists in six games with Orebro HK’s junior team of the Swedish League this year. Cheveldayoff and the Jets are very familiar with Command, as they were keeping a close eye on him at the draft, the general manager said. He notes the plan was to always take Viggo Bjorck, but if for some reason he had already been selected, the Jets were looking to trade back in the draft and potentially take Command if he was available. “The opportunity to get a player that we had high on our draft board this past draft, given the opportunity to help our organization, again at a position that is such a key part in an organization at centre, it is exciting.” Meanwhile, Bjugstad has yet to suit up for the Devils this season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn left pectoral muscle. His recovery time is set at four to six months. In 61 games last season, split between the Devils and St. Louis Blues, Bjugstad had six goals and nine assists. Finally moving on from the trade saga Speaking with CTV News Friday, Danielle Bain, TSN’s Winnipeg Bureau Reporter, said this trade is a massive weight lifted off everyone in the organization and the Jets fanbase. “You could feel it the last week for sure. Players and staff are just so tired of being asked about the situation,” said Bain. “As time has gone on and as this situation has dragged on, fans have become more and more upset with how things are going. So I think that fans are just as excited as the players and Hellebuyck that this is all finally coming to an end.” As for how Hellebuyck will be received when he eventually makes his return to Winnipeg and Canada Life Centre, Bain said time will tell. “He has given a lot to this organization over the years and he did enjoy being a Winnipeg Jet, there’s no questioning that. But it’s hard to know if he’ll get any type of warm reception, especially after we just saw what happened with Brady Tkachuk in Ottawa.” Cheveldayoff was asked about what Hellebuyck’s legacy should be in Winnipeg. “One thing we can never forget is again he was a big part of our family. We accomplished some pretty good things. We obviously didn’t accomplish the end all goal that we all wanted. Those memories are going to stay there. Those memories are going to be the same.” As for how he thinks Jets fans might react during Hellebuyck’s return, he understands there will be different levels of emotions. “When that comes, far be it for me to lecture on any particular fan. But at the end of the day, I know it’s an emotional thing, but again, we all should also appreciate what he has accomplished.” Jets fans won’t have to wait long, as Hellebuyck and the Devils will be in Winnipeg on Nov. 10. - With files from CTV News’ Alex Karpa
