The Connor Hellebuyck saga is officially over.
The Jets traded the 33-year-old three-time Vezina winner to the Devils Friday in exchange for forwards Dawson Mercer, Alexander Command and Nick Bjugstad, goalie Nico Daws, a 2029 second-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick.
Hellebuyck is in the third year of a seven-year contract carrying an $8.5 million AAV. He requested a trade during the offseason, and the team placed him on an unpaid suspension for sitting out training camp. He missed all of training camp and the first 24 days of the regular season, forfeiting $927,835.05 in salary.
There were offers on the table from contenders like the Hurricanes and the Sabres, but the Jets took their time and landed on the package from the Devils as Hellebuyck's unpaid suspension expired Friday.
Winnipeg never had much leverage to play around with, here, but how did they do now that all is said and done? Will Hellebuyck's new home give him a better opportunity to achieve success in the playoffs?
Here are the winners and losers of Hellebuyck to the Devils.
Winners: The New Jersey Devils
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The Devils have been trending in the right direction after a rougher start to the season, but they've still got work to do as they sit at fourth in the brutal Metropolitan Division with a 6-4-0 record.
Production hasn't been the problem, as Jack Hughes is averaging more than a point per game and depth scoring has been solid, but goaltending has been an issue since trading Jacob Markström. Jake Allen and Nico Daws have been splitting the net, and both have put up mediocre-to-bad performances. Allen's got a 3.15 GAA and an .883 save percentage through six games, while Daws has a 2.78 GAA and an .876 save percentage through four games.
Who better to come in and round out this group than Hellebuyck?
To top it all off, the Devils didn't have to give up any key players or a first-round pick. Mercer has been a solid defense-first forward for the Devils, but he appears to have hit his ceiling offensively. The haul they sent over was hefty in volume, but not in true impact on the team.
The Devils and GM Sunny Mehta clearly win this round of poker.
Losers: The Winnipeg Jets' Front Office
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The Jets were going to be losers in this deal from the moment Hellebuyck requested a trade. All things considered, though, they still fumbled the little leverage they had in the situation.
Yes, Hellebuyck is a 33-year-old goalie; yes, he's coming off of a down season; and yes, he had a pesky no-movement clause. Still, he's a three-time Vezina winner and a Hart Trophy winner. He is more often than not the best goaltender in the NHL, and he's particularly hungry for some playoff success.
The Jets did not get a first-round pick or any remotely on-par player in a deal where they shipped off the most elite player at the most coveted position in the league. The Senators got three first-round picks and a second-rounder for Brady Tkachuk.
We also know that the Jets turned down several offers before landing on this one, and both the Sabres and the Hurricanes reportedly had competitive offers on the table. It's tough to stomach that a team struggling so much offensively didn't get an enticing scorer or the hope of drafting one in this deal.
Losers: NHL Teams That Still Need Goaltending
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The Hurricanes and the Sabres were two teams heavily in the Hellebuyck mix for a reason: Both are seeking either elevated or more consistent goaltending to contend for a Cup.
The Hurricanes are doing fine, leading the NHL with 18 points to start the season after letting Freddie Andersen leave via free agency to the Oilers, but underlying stats indicate that goaltending could regress. According to MoneyPuck.com, Pyotr Kochetkov is ranked 19th league-wide with 2.3 goals saved above expected through six games, and despite his undefeated record, he's got a .899 save percentage. Brandon Bussi is off to a rough start, averaging more than three goals allowed per game, with a 2-2 record and a .865 save percentage.
Meanwhile, the Sabres are in an even more dire situation. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is struggling with -3.7 goals saved above expected, an .864 save percentage, and a 3.53 GAA through eight games. As the Sabres sit at the bottom of the Atlantic, they could really use the best goaltender in the game to turn things around.
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Winner: The Sweepstakes for Quinn Hughes
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The Hellebuyck trade is the first of many dominoes to fall that could very likely end up impacting Quinn Hughes' future.
It's no secret that Hughes, set to become a free agent at the end of this season, is eyeing the opportunity to play with his brothers in New Jersey. He's made it clear, though, that as lovely as that would be, his number one priority is winning.
You know who he won Olympic Gold with last season? Oh yeah, Connor Hellebuyck. You know who elite defensemen value? Elite goaltenders.
Hellebuyck to New Jersey could end up creating a butterfly effect for the Hughes situation with several create-your-own-adventures. The Devils could climb to the top of the Metro and entice Hughes at the deadline or in the offseason.
On the other hand, maybe Wild GM Bill Guerin is watching this play out and thinking, "How can we do everything in our power to keep Hughes in Minnesota?"
Winner: The Sweepstakes for Dylan Larkin
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Speaking of Guerin doing everything he can to keep Hughes in Minnesota, the Hellebuyck trade is coming days after the news that Larkin expanded his trade list to 10 teams. Things were already heating up in the Larkin sweepstakes, and they're expected to come to a head shortly.
The Wild were on Larkin's short list of three teams from the start, and they remain on his expanded list. The Wild also need another elite center to tie the bow on a near-perfect roster. Perhaps acquiring Larkin would convince Hughes to extend with the Wild and contend for a Stanley Cup, and perhaps Hellebuyck to New Jersey puts the necessary pressure on Guerin to get it done.
Beyond Hughes and the Wild, the Hurricanes are always looking to improve, and GM Eric Tulsky cannot resist a good contract. After losing out on the Hellebuyck sweepstakes, could the Canes throw their hat in the ring for Larkin?
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