THE DEVIL YOU KNEW
Hellebuyck shipped to New Jersey in blockbuster deal
Former Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck lost nearly US$1 million in salary. (DAVID ZALUBOWSKI / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES)
CONNOR Hellebuyck finally got his wish. Kevin Cheveldayoff finally got an offer he couldn't refuse. And a long-running sports soap opera has finally ended.
The Winnipeg Jets pulled off a blockbuster deal Friday morning, shipping their disgruntled franchise goaltender to the New Jersey Devils for a package including four players and two draft picks.
Although they liked the return, nobody within the organization was popping champagne. This was, in many ways, a dark but necessary day.
"It certainly hasn't been fun. There's no question about it. But at the end of the day, Connor made his choice. And, as an organization, we had to act accordingly and we did," the general manager said during an afternoon news conference at Canada Life Centre.
The Jets received forward Dawson Mercer, forward Nick Bjugstad, goaltender Nico Daws and prospect Alexander Command — a centre from Sweden who was selected 12th-overall in June's NHL draft. Winnipeg also nets a couple draft picks: a seventh-round lottery ticket in 2027 and a second-round selection in 2029.
"I feel that we addressed some needs that we had in our forward group here right now," said Cheveldayoff.
"We added depth to the organization. We added assets that I can use now either for drafting or at the trade deadline. And at the end of the day, that's the goal that I set out to try to accomplish here moving forward."
Hellebuyck — who is in the third year of a seven-year contract extension he signed with the Jets in 2023 — informed the organization of his trade request at the end of last season, then refused to report to training camp last month when it hadn't been honoured.
He never explicitly stated his reason but a desire to leave Canada and play in his home country coupled with concerns about Winnipeg's championship window are believed to be factors.
The 33-year-old Michigan product, who has won three Vezina Trophies, one Hart Trophy and an Olympic gold medal, was suspended by the Jets on Sept. 16. That was set to expire Friday — after costing Hellebuyck nearly US$1 million in forfeited salary — which upped the urgency to get something done.
Hellebuyck had no actual interest in returning to play for Winnipeg, and it's clear his looming presence was going to become a major distraction based on strong words from his now former teammates.
The Jets are 4-3-3 this year but have one win in the last six games (1-3-2), with a lack of offensive production a major issue.
The hope is that Mercer can provide immediate help in that department. The 24-year-old from Newfoundland was the 18th-overall pick in 2020 and is a right-shot centre who can also play the wing. He has 213 points (103 goals, 110 assists) in 420 NHL games, all with New Jersey.
Mercer's best season came in 2022-23 when he had 27 goals and 29 assists. He has four assists in 10 games so far this year, which has been primarily spent on the third line with the Devils.
"The role he's going to play for us is not the role that he's been playing this last year," said Cheveldayoff.
"He's a younger player still in the sense that there's lots of runway in front of him and I think he fits into this group. And I think him being around a Kyle Connor and being around a Mark Scheifele is really going to help a player like that with his type of game."
Mercer — who makes US$4 million this year and is a restricted free agent next summer — is expected to make his debut Sunday when the Jets host the Montreal Canadiens in the Heritage Classic at Princess Auto Stadium.
The prized return may turn out to be Command, which means judging the real value of this deal could take years. The 18-year-old was selected by the Devils just four picks after Winnipeg took his good friend and countryman, Viggo Bjorck, at No. 8.
He's someone the Jets scouted heavily, came away impressed with during interviews and might have ultimately drafted themselves had Bjorck not been available in their slot. Cheveldayoff described the forward as "a very serious no-nonsense type of competitor" at Friday's presser.
THE DEVIL ..., CONTINUED ON E2