https://t.co/U8h641KjJt
— NHL Rumors (@NHLrumorsX) October 23, 2026
Puck Pedia: The New Jersey Devils added $1.65 million to their cap.
To #NJDevils
Connor Hellebuyck 33 y/o G, Yr 3/7 $8.5M
to #GoJetsGo
Dawson Mercer 24 y/o F, Yr 3/3 $4M – RFA
Nico Daws 25 y/o G, Yr 1/2 $1.1M
Nick Bjugstad 34 y/o F, Yr 2/2 $1.75M
Alexander Command
’29 2nd
’27 7th
Andy Graziano: “Devils going from Jake Allen and Nico Daws to Connor Hellebuyck is huge.”
Nick Alberga: “Winnipeg got way more than I thought they would for Connor Hellebuyck. Solid deal for Kevin Cheveldayoff.”
Renaud Lavoie: “The @NHLJets were complaining about offers that weren’t good enough for Connor Hellebuyck. Clearly today’s trade with the @NJDevils settles the issue. ”
Mario Tirabassi: “Jets fleece job?”
Jesse Granger: “Betting odds impact of Connor Hellebuyck joining the New Jersey Devils, per @BetOnlineAG:
Win Division: 7/1 to 5/1
Win Conference: 14/1 to 10/1
Win President’s Trophy: 35/1 to 22/1
Win the Stanley Cup: 28/1 to 20/1”
Matt Marchese: “People saying Sunny Mehta was fooling us all along or was playing poker clearly weren’t listening… He talked about the unpredictable nature of the goaltending position – then goes out and trades for one of the most predictable goalies in the last decade This isn’t difficult”
JFresh: “Very palateable for the Devils. Best goalie you could acquire for 12th overall, a middle six forward, a backup goalie, and a 2nd.”
Todd Cordell: “Losing Command sucks but this is a nice deal. Put Brown in Mercer’s spot at RW3, get Lombardi back in the lineup on L4, and you’re rolling.”
Ken Wiebe: “Looks like an outstanding addition to #NHLJets centre depth with addition of Alexander Command.”
Scott Wheeler: “Alexander Command was my 60th-ranked drafted NHL prospect on my summer list, ranked 18th on my list in the 2026 draft, and was the Devils’ top forward prospect. Strong-over-pucks two-way center with excellent contact skills who projects as a middle-six C in the NHL.”
Ryan Kennedy: “In Alexander Command, Winnipeg gets a high-floor, mid-ceiling two-way player. I was surprised New Jersey took him as high as they did at the draft, but he should be able to play in the NHL for a long time once he develops.”
Montreal Hockey Now: “These package deals always seem like a king’s ransom until you start breaking down the individual value. Whole lot of mediocre assets, with a side order of potential for Command.”
NHL Watcher: “That was the return Chevaldayoff was holding out for? Dawson Mercer is a solid player, but he really hasn’t looked like the same guy since his 2022-23 season. He’s shown flashes here and there, but I don’t think he’s developed into the player many expected him to be.”
Andy Graziano: “Mercer is a nice player, but bottom sixer for me. Command is a 50/50 prospect. The picks are meh. I think the Devils did very well here and put themselves in a very solid position in the East, health considering.”
Mike McIntyre: “One note about Nick Bjugstard. He’s a pending unrestricted free agent who is on IR. Underwent surgery for a torn pectoral muscle last month. 4-6 month recovery (so January to March).”
Mercer is a legit middle 6 C and Command, taken 12th overall in 2026, looks pretty, pretty good and is popping off early in the J20 in his D+1. And there’s some other pieces too.
Well done, Winnipeg Jets, well done. https://t.co/eQ57bFG5ZT
— Byron Bader (@ByronMBader) October 23, 2026
Command was not an NHLe favourite this year. EP had him at 19, projecting him as a likely 3C thanks to his competitiveness, brain, and balanced skillset. Some prognosticators saw a higher upside for him. https://t.co/5HR2FdFMiw
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) October 23, 2026
A trade from Winnipeg to NJ would add about $265k in tax savings per year to Hellebuyck’s pockets, based on his $8.5M AAV.
However, if his legal domicile became his home state of Michigan, the savings could nearly double to >$500k. https://t.co/6GRKIuHHqG
— JockTaxes (@JockTaxes) October 23, 2026
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