Devils Land Connor Hellebuyck in Blockbuster Trade With the Jets

The standoff is over. The New Jersey Devils acquired goaltender Connor Hellebuyck from the Winnipeg Jets on Friday, landing one of the most decorated goalies of his era and instantly changing the outlook of their season.

The Trade

Winnipeg sent Hellebuyck to New Jersey for a package of four players and two draft picks. Veteran center Nick Bjugstad, a Minnesota native and former Wild forward, is among the players heading to Winnipeg.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman first reported that talks were underway on Friday morning, and the deal came together quickly from there. Reports also said the New York Islanders were considered as a possible third team to help with salary, but New Jersey ultimately completed the trade without outside help.

Why Hellebuyck Wanted Out

Hellebuyck asked for a trade during the offseason, and the request hung over the Jets for months. The 33-year-old leaves Winnipeg after spending his entire 11-year NHL career with the franchise. The trade finally gives both sides a clean break.

One of the Best Résumés in Hockey

Few goalies arrive with Hellebuyck's credentials:

• Three Vezina Trophies as the NHL's best goaltender.
• A Hart Trophy as league MVP, a rare honor for a goalie.
• Olympic gold. He backstopped the United States to gold at the Milan-Cortina Winter Games in February.

That combination of regular season dominance and big game success is exactly what the Devils were missing.

What It Means for New Jersey

Goaltending has been the question mark in New Jersey for years. With Hellebuyck in the crease, the Devils have a true No. 1 behind a talented young core, and the betting market noticed immediately: their Stanley Cup odds shortened right after the trade.

It is bad news for the rest of the Metropolitan Division. Rivals such as the Columbus Blue Jackets already faced a tough path, and now one of their division foes has the kind of goalie who can steal a playoff series by himself.

What It Means for Winnipeg

The Jets lose the face of their franchise, but they turn an unhappy situation into roster depth and future assets. Bjugstad brings experience down the middle, and the two picks give Winnipeg flexibility for the next few years.

Circle November 10

Hellebuyck will not have to wait long for his return. The Devils play the Jets in Winnipeg on November 10, and it will be one of the most emotional nights of the NHL regular season.

Stay on top of every deal in our NHL coverage, and learn more about the history behind the hardware in our background on the Vezina Trophy.