The New Jersey Devils announced today that the team has acquired goaltender Connor Hellebuyck in a trade from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for forwards Dawson Mercer, Nick Bjugstad and Alexander Command, goaltender Nico Daws, New Jersey’s second-round pick in the 2029 NHL Draft and seventh-round selection in the 2027 NHL Draft. The announcement was made by General Manager Sunny Mehta.
Hellebuyck, 33, is one of the most accomplished goaltenders in the National Hockey League, having won the Hart Memorial Trophy as Most Valuable Player (2023-24), three Vezina Trophies as best goaltender (2019-20, 2023-24, and 2024-25; also a finalist in 2017-18 and 2022-23), two William M. Jennings Trophies for lowest goals-against average (2023-24 and 2024-25), three NHL First All-Star Team selections (2019-20, 2023-24 and 2024-25), one NHL Second All-Star Team Selection (2017-18), and played in four NHL All-Star Games (2017-18, 2019-20, 2022-23 and 2023-24).
Additionally, his goaltending performance in the 2026 Olympic Winter Games featured one of the best in international hockey history, and helped bring a gold medal in hockey to the United States for the first time in 46 years, as the USA beat rivals, Canada. Hellebuyck earned tournament honors for the best goals-against average (1.18), best save percentage (.956), and was named Best Goaltender and to the Olympic All-Star Team.
The 6’4”, 215lbs. netminder has a 345-208-55 career record in 625 regular-season contests with a 2.58 GAA, .916 save percentage and 45 career shutouts. Since his rookie campaign in 2015-16, Hellebuyck’s minutes played (36,400) and shutouts total rank first, while his win total and GAA rank second. He has hit the 30-win mark six times, including a career-high 47 wins in 2024-25, the second-highest total in NHL history (behind 48 from Martin Brodeur and Braden Holtby, Wsh.). He earned a victory in his NHL debut on Nov. 27, 2015, at Minnesota.
Hellebuyck backstopped the Jets to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in seven seasons, appearing in 58 career Stanley Cup Playoff games (24-34), with a 2.90 GAA, .903 save percentage and five shutouts. He helped lead the Jets to the 2018 Western Conference Finals, after posting a 9-8 record with a 2.36 GAA and .922 save%.
The Commerce, MI, native is in the third year of a seven-year contract worth $59,500,000 ($8,500,000 AAV) through 2030-31.
Born on May 19, 1993, Winnipeg selected Hellebuyck in the fifth round, 130th overall, in the 2012 NHL Draft. His career wins rank second all-time for a goaltender drafted in the fifth round or later, and his career win total ranks seventh all-time for American-born NHL netminders.
In addition to his Olympic performance, Hellebuyck has also represented the United States in international play at the IIHF’s World Championship (WC) in 2015 and 2017. He helped the U.S. win a bronze medal in 2015, and Hellebuyck’s 1.37 GAA and .948 save% led all goaltenders at the 2015 WC. He was also Team USA’s netminder at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off where he posted the best GAA (1.59) and best save% (.970).
At the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) level, Hellebuyck played at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell from 2012-13 to 2013-14 and recorded a 38-12-2 overall record. He also earned numerous accolades, winning a Hockey East title twice, was named the 2012-13 Hockey East Goaltender of the Year and was the Hockey East Tournament MVP in both seasons played.
