After lobbying for some sort of change following an “unacceptable” season, star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is getting just that. <\/p>\n
The New Jersey Devils acquired Hellebuyck from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for goaltender Nico Daws, forward Dawson Mercer, center Alexander Command, center Nick Bjugstad and two future draft picks. <\/p>\n
TSN’s Darren Dreger<\/a>, ESPN’s Kevin Weekes<\/a> and The Athletic’s Chris Johnston<\/a> first reported the details.<\/p>\n Johnston and The Athletic’s Murat Ates<\/a>\u00a0previously reported<\/a> the suspension the Jets issued to Hellebuyck for failing to report to training camp was expected to expire Friday.<\/p>\n The suspension has cost Hellebuyck $925,000 in forfeited salary, according to Johnston and Ates. The Jets have gotten off to a 4-3-3 start to the season with Stuart Skinner as their go-to starter over that stretch.<\/p>\n Winnipeg is coming off a 2025-26 campaign in which it missed the playoffs and collected the second-fewest points (82) in the Central division.<\/p>\n During his exit interview with the media in April, Hellebuyck was candid when he stated his desire to lift a Stanley Cup and suggested the Jets could need to shake things up.<\/p>\n “From my perspective, complacency is not going to get us moving forward,” he told reporters<\/a>. “So something has got to happen. I’m not going to just sit here and throw every guy under the bus because, honestly, I’m a goalie and I know goaltending really well.<\/p>\n “I can’t say, ‘Well, this forward did this and that defenceman did that.’ That’s not my spot. I believe in every guy giving their A-plus effort every single night. As a teammate, I can really rally behind that and really cherish those moments with those guys. But to just put that same product on the ice, I don’t think it worked for a reason.”<\/p>\n Hellebuyck didn’t go so far as to request a trade, but Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff confirmed<\/a> in June the team was willing to entertain offers.<\/p>\n “Certainly, as an organization we’re going to listen,” he said. “Everyone saw (Hellebuyck’s) press conference at the end of the year; he was passionate. Certainly, in our exit meetings we had some frank conversations as well, but again, what happens in those meetings certainly stays private.”<\/p>\n A formal trade request did then arrive in August. Through his agent, Hellebuyck said<\/a> he approached the Jets months earlier about wanting out but didn’t want to publicize it. The lack of movement compelled him to take a different approach.<\/p>\n