The Connor Hellebuyck saga in Winnipeg is officially over.

In what has been a massive storyline in the National Hockey League since June, the Winnipeg Jets trade goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to the New Jersey Devils for a package that includes forwards Nick Bjugstad and Dawson Mercer, goaltender Nico Daws, prospect Alexander Command, a seventh-round pick in 2027, and a second-round pick in 2029.

After 11 years of service in a Jets uniform, Hellebuyck made a trade request after the 2025-26 season. There were some rumblings around the draft that he was going to get moved to the Buffalo Sabres, but that trade fell through. He remained trade-less throughout the summer, and in late August, Hellebuyck released a statement in hopes of expediting the process:

Hellebuyck did not report to Jets training camp and was suspended without pay as a result. After serving a month-long suspension, Hellebuyck said he wanted to return to the team, which he is entitled to as of today, Friday, October 23. It seemed like this was another ploy to get him traded sooner rather than later, and on the day he was eligible to return to Winnipeg, he got his wish and found a new home.

In return, the Jets net a package of six pieces.

Mercer is a 24-year-old centre/winger. He has been a consistent 30-40 point scorer, topping out at 27 goals and 56 points in 2022-23. In 10 games this season, Mercer has played wing on the Devils’ third line, adding four assists.

Bjugstad is a 34-year-old depth centre who signed a two-year deal with the Devils last season. He played just 26 games in New Jersey last year, and after tearing his pectoral muscle during offseason training in September, he is on LTIR until sometime in January-March of 2027.

Daws is a 25-year-old netminder who served as Jake Allen’s backup this season. He appears in four games this year, has a 2-2 record with a 2.78 goals against average and an .872 save percentage.

The Devils selected Command 12th overall in June’s draft. Through six games with Örebro’s junior team, Command has seven goals and 12 points. He earned a promotion to the big club in the SHL, where he is still searching for his first point.

Overall, the Jets netted a haul in this Hellebuyck deal. But don’t be fooled; this is clearly a quantity-over-quality deal for Winnipeg.

I like Mercer, but he won’t move the needle offensively. I was high on Command during the draft process, but he projects as a middle-six centre if he hits his projection. Bjugstad is centre depth who may not return until March. Daws has potential, but Winnipeg’s goaltending has been fine to start the season. And then a second-round pick in three drafts from now, and a seventh this season.

New Jersey acquired one of, if not the best, goaltenders in the league, who has won three Vezina Trophies and a Hart Trophy since 2020. And they didn’t have to trade anyone from their top six; none of their top-six blueliners; their top prospect, Anton Silaev; or a first-round pick, even though they have two in 2027.

It seems like a no-brainer, home-run deal for the Devils. They seem to be loading up to be a prime destination for a specific defenceman if he hits the free-agent market this offseason.