Connor Hellebuyck earns shutout in Devils debut, Bjugstad on injured reserve

Fantasy hockey: Hellebuyck stopped all 23 shots Sunday in his first start for New Jersey, while Bjugstad cannot play after surgery. Fantasy impact.

By Fantasy Roundup Staff · November 9, 2026 · Updated November 11, 2026

Connor Hellebuyck stopped all 23 shots on Sunday, November 8 in New Jersey's 4-0 win over Toronto, playing all 60 minutes in his Devils debut. The three-time Vezina winner earned the win after being traded from Winnipeg on October 23 following a public trade request and training camp suspension.

The shutout gives Hellebuyck's new team exactly what they acquired him for: elite goaltending. His ratios with the Jets were a 2.43 goals-against average and .914 save percentage, and his save quality grades 67 out of 100 among goalies in our model. Nick Bjugstad is on injured reserve with no return date after surgery, making him unable to play despite being part of the same trade.

Fantasy impact

Player by player

Connor Hellebuyck

Hellebuyck's 23-save shutout in his first Devils start shows the form that made him one of the league's best goaltenders. His save quality graded 67 out of 100 with Winnipeg, a measure of goals saved above expected and high-danger stops. His recent ratios with the Jets were a 2.43 goals-against average and .914 save percentage across 166 games in our sample, though none of those numbers reflect his new role in New Jersey yet.

The Devils have four games left this week (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday) and two next week, giving Hellebuyck plenty of chances to establish himself as the lead option. His numbers will take time to build with his new club, but the performance Sunday suggests he can maintain the quality that made him worth the package of Dawson Mercer, Alexander Command, Bjugstad, Nico Daws and two draft picks.

Dawson Mercer

Mercer heads to Winnipeg after averaging 0.48 points per game with New Jersey, posting 0.24 goals and 0.24 assists while skating 18:11 a night with 1:35 of power-play time. His underlying play graded 55 out of 100 among forwards in our model, a measure of shots, scoring chances and ice time that suggests how sustainable his scoring is. Those numbers all came with the Devils and do not describe his role with the Jets yet.

The Jets have four games left this week (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday) and three next week, so Mercer will have ample opportunity to show what role he occupies in Winnipeg's lineup. With no New Jersey sample to work from, fantasy managers will need to watch his deployment before making roster decisions. His grades suggest he is a complementary option rather than a top-line catalyst.

Nick Bjugstad

Bjugstad is on injured reserve after surgery and cannot play, with no return date listed in our injury feed. The trade to Winnipeg does nothing for fantasy lineups until he is activated. He averaged 0.24 points per game before the injury, posting 0.12 goals and 0.12 assists in 10:52 a night with just 0:04 of power-play time, ranking 19th among his club's skaters in power-play minutes.

His underlying play graded 50 out of 100 among forwards, suggesting depth scoring when healthy. New Jersey has four games left this week, but Bjugstad will miss all of them. Fantasy managers holding him in IR slots should monitor Winnipeg's injury updates for activation news, but there is no reason to carry him on an active roster while he remains out.

Nico Daws

Daws moves to Winnipeg with a 2.92 goals-against average and .901 save percentage from his 35-game sample with New Jersey. Those numbers all came with the Devils and do not reflect his role with the Jets yet, where he will back up the goaltender Winnipeg acquired to replace Hellebuyck. His ratios suggest backup-level performance rather than a starter's workload.

The Jets have four games left this week (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday) and three next week, though Daws will likely see limited action while settling into his new backup role. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues can monitor his first few appearances to gauge whether Winnipeg uses him differently than New Jersey did, but his profile suggests streaming value at best until his new team's usage pattern becomes clear.

What to do

• Start Hellebuyck in all formats as New Jersey's lead goaltender through the Devils' four remaining games this week.

• Hold Mercer in deeper leagues while waiting to see his deployment with Winnipeg, but do not add him until his new role clarifies.

• Keep Bjugstad on injured reserve only if you have the roster space, as he cannot play until activated from surgery.

• Stream Daws only in the deepest leagues if Winnipeg gives him a start, but expect backup usage going forward.

Schedule this week