Connor Hellebuyck traded to Devils, cannot play until activated

Fantasy hockey: Hellebuyck is out with no return date. Dawson Mercer and Nico Daws land in Winnipeg with an extra game this week. Fantasy impact.

By Fantasy Roundup Staff · October 25, 2026

Connor Hellebuyck has been traded from Winnipeg to New Jersey, ending a six-month holdout. The three-time Vezina Trophy winner arrived in Newark on Saturday but is out with no return date in the injury feed. The Devils moved Dawson Mercer, Nick Bjugstad and Nico Daws to Winnipeg in the deal.

Hellebuyck cannot play until he is activated, so the move does nothing for fantasy lineups yet. His save quality with Winnipeg graded 67 out of 100 (goals saved above expected and high-danger saves). When healthy in Winnipeg, he posted a 2.43 goals-against average and .914 save percentage over 166 games. Mercer and Daws gain an extra start right away, as Winnipeg plays four times this week to New Jersey's three.

Fantasy impact

Player by player

Connor Hellebuyck

Hellebuyck is out with no return date, so the trade changes nothing for fantasy managers until he is activated. The reporting suggests he could play as soon as one of the back-to-back games in Dallas or Colorado this week after practicing with the team Monday, but he remains off-limits until the injury status clears. His Devils debut will come on a team playing three times this week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday) and three next week.

With Winnipeg, Hellebuyck posted a 2.43 goals-against average and .914 save percentage over 166 games. His save quality graded 67 out of 100 among goalies, a mark of goals saved above expected and high-danger save work. Jake Allen started Saturday's win over Los Angeles and figures to split the upcoming back-to-back with someone, but Hellebuyck cannot be added or started until his injury status is lifted.

Dawson Mercer

Mercer joins a Winnipeg team playing four times this week to New Jersey's three, giving his managers one extra start immediately. With the Devils, he averaged 18:11 a night, 0.48 points and 1.8 shots per game over 225 games. He worked the second power-play unit, logging 1:35 a night. Winnipeg's first unit runs Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, Cole Perfetti, Gabriel Vilardi and Neal Pionk.

His underlying play graded 55 out of 100 among forwards (shots, scoring chances and ice time), a measure of how sustainable his scoring is. Mercer collected 0.24 goals and 0.24 assists per game with New Jersey, with 0.09 power-play points a night. The move to Winnipeg offers more games this week, though his role and minutes with his new team remain to be determined.

Nick Bjugstad

Bjugstad is on injured reserve following surgery and cannot play until activated, so the trade to Winnipeg does nothing for fantasy lineups yet. With New Jersey, he averaged 10:52 a night, 0.24 points and 1.5 shots per game over 194 games. He saw almost no power-play time (0:04 a night), and his underlying play graded 50 out of 100 among forwards (shots, scoring chances and ice time).

He collected 0.12 goals and 0.12 assists per game with the Devils, along with 1.5 hits and 0.5 blocks a night. Winnipeg plays four times this week to New Jersey's three, but Bjugstad remains out with no return date. Managers cannot add or start him until he is activated from injured reserve.

Nico Daws

Daws lands in Winnipeg, which plays four times this week to New Jersey's three, giving his managers one extra start immediately. With New Jersey, he posted a 2.92 goals-against average and .901 save percentage over 35 games. The move comes as Winnipeg sent Hellebuyck to the Devils, opening a clear path for starts in a stronger defensive setup.

Daws figures to share the Winnipeg net while Hellebuyck remains out, though his exact role in the rotation is not yet defined. The extra game this week (Winnipeg plays Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday) makes him worth watching in deeper formats. His workload in Winnipeg will depend on how the club splits duties, but the immediate schedule advantage gives him streaming appeal.

Jake Allen

Allen started Saturday's 3-1 win over Los Angeles and figures to handle one half of the back-to-back in Dallas and Colorado this week while Hellebuyck cannot play. Allen has posted a 3.00 goals-against average and .900 save percentage over 97 games, with an 86 percent start share. His save quality grades 68 out of 100 (goals saved above expected and high-danger saves), a tick above Hellebuyck's 67.

Once Hellebuyck is activated, Allen's workload will shrink considerably. The reporting indicates Hellebuyck is used to playing 60 or more games a season, while Allen has played 31 and 37 games with New Jersey the past two years. Allen remains a hold for now, but his value will drop sharply when Hellebuyck takes the net. New Jersey plays three times this week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday) and three next week.

What to do

• Do not add or start Hellebuyck until he is activated from the injury list.

• Stream Daws in deeper formats for Winnipeg's four games this week, starting Sunday.

• Stream Mercer for Winnipeg's extra game this week if you need a center in deep leagues.

• Hold Allen for now, but expect his starts to dry up once Hellebuyck is cleared to play.

Schedule this week