By acquiring three-time Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck, the New Jersey Devils must now be seen as peripheral Stanley Cup contenders.
The Devils Are a Stanley Cup Dark Horse
Devils Make Major Statement By Acquiring Goalie Connor Hellebuyck
The Devils definitely made a major statement when, on Friday, October 23rd, in a trade which Devils fans and management alike will look at as a definite turning point, they strengthened their goaltending by acquiring Hellebuyck from the Winnipeg Jets 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 going back to the Jets.
Without question, it will take Hellebuyck a handful of starts or so to find his game, as he hasn’t played this season, but has been on the ice in Michigan practicing.
Hellebuyck has starting last off-season been front and center in the headlines when he requested a trade, before eventually on September 16th got suspended by the team for a term which lasted until Friday, October 23rd when he was reinstated and eventually traded to New Jersey.
“It certainly hasn’t been fun, there’s no question about. But at the end of day, Connor made his choice to do how he chose to do it, and as an organization, we had to act accordingly,” Jets General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said.
Besides trading for this borderline Hall of Famer, who has 345 wins and 45 shutouts on his resume, the Devils have an impressive nucleus up front with the likes of Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier and a talented defense core led by veteran Dougie Hamilton, Luke Hughes and Brett Pesce, who, after his 10th game of the season, has a plus/minus of +6.
Before trading for Hellebuyck, the Devils goaltending tandem was 36-year-old veteran Jake Allen and Daws, which, with all due respect, isn’t exactly a Stanley Cup-winning tandem.
The addition of Hellebuyck, who, as hockey fans might remember, helped Team USA win men’s Olympic hockey gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics, now makes the Devils a contending team.
Hellebuyck Excited To Be A Devil
A day after being traded to the Devils, Hellebuyck couldn’t contain his excitement when he spoke with general manager Sonny Mehta. “He was like, I’m ready, I’m packed. I’ll get in my car right now,” Mehta said about that memorable first conversation with Hellebuyck.
Also expressing excitement was Devils coach Sheldon Keefe, who stated, “Obviously having a goaltender of this pedigree come in here and support Jake (Allen) is exciting. That should give the group more confidence.”
It hasn’t been determined when Hellebuyck, who played his last game on April 13th (6-2 loss vs. Vegas Golden Knights), will be ready to make his Devils debut. It will be interesting to see if he’s in net on November 10th, when the Devils are in Winnipeg to play the Jets.
Hellebuyck emphasized that he cares very much for the fans in Winnipeg and that they will always have a special place in his heart and plans in the near future to express a message to all Jets fans. One reason why he agreed to the trade is that he believes in the Devils and thinks they have what it takes to win.
The Last Word
For the past year or so, rumours have been reported on social media that the Minnesota Wild’s best defenseman, Quinn Hughes, will, next summer as an Unrestricted Free Agent, join brothers Jack and Luke Hughes in New Jersey.
Quinn, who is 26 years old and is in the sixth and final year of a six-year $47.1 million contract, is off to a solid start with 13 points (two goals and 11 assists) along with a plus/minus of +6 in 11 games.
In his career, which has also seen Quinn play for the Vancouver Canucks, he has scored 68 goals along with 498 points and a solid plus/minus of +33 in 518 games. As illustrated, he brings that much-needed offensive punch from the blue line.
Another prominent name who could perhaps end up sooner rather than later on the Devils is disgruntled Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin, who recently included the Devils on his list of teams he would agree to a trade with.
Without question, if they trade for Larkin and sign Hughes, the Devils with the elite goaltending of Hellebuyck will be serious Cup contenders.
Main Image: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
