Devils acquire goaltender Connor Hellebuyck from Jets in blockbuster trade

The Winnipeg Jets traded goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to the New Jersey Devils on October 23, CBS Sports and The Guardian reported. In exchange for the three time Vezina Trophy winner, the Jets received forwards Dawson Mercer and Nick Bjugstad, goaltender Nico Daws, player Alexander Command, a 2027 seventh round pick, and a 2029 second round pick, CBS Sports, the New York Post, and The Guardian reported. [2][3][6]

Hellebuyck requested a trade from Winnipeg in August after making an initial private request months earlier, CBS Sports and The Guardian reported. He spent 11 years with the Jets before the team granted his request, according to The Guardian. [3][6]

The trade reunites Hellebuyck with New Jersey center Jack Hughes, Fox News and The Guardian reported. The two were teammates on the United States Olympic team that won a gold medal, with Hellebuyck stopping 41 of 42 shots in the final game and Hughes scoring the winning goal in overtime, according to Fox News. Hughes was drafted first overall by the Devils in 2019. [1][6][9]

Following the acquisition, betting markets increased the postseason odds for New Jersey, which entered the weekend with a 6-4-0 record, the New York Post reported. DraftKings Sportsbook set the Devils at -400 to reach the playoffs, while probability on Kalshi rose from 55 percent to 70 percent, according to the New York Post. [2]