Connor Hellebuyck traded to Devils; Dawson Mercer heads to Winnipeg

Fantasy hockey: Hellebuyck joins New Jersey, while Mercer and Nico Daws move to Winnipeg in a blockbuster deal. Fantasy hockey impact and what to do.

By Fantasy Roundup Staff · October 23, 2026

The Winnipeg Jets traded Connor Hellebuyck to the New Jersey Devils on Friday, ending months of speculation about the three-time Vezina Trophy and Hart Trophy winner. The package sent to Winnipeg includes forwards Dawson Mercer, Alexander Command and Nick Bjugstad, goaltender Nico Daws, a 2027 seventh-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick. Hellebuyck had been suspended until Friday after not showing up for training camp and the start of the season.

The deal reshapes both crease situations and gives Winnipeg a second-line center in Mercer. Hellebuyck brings elite save quality to New Jersey, while Mercer arrives in Winnipeg having averaged 18:11 a night with New Jersey. Bjugstad is on injured reserve with no return date and does nothing for fantasy lineups until activated.

Fantasy impact

Player by player

Connor Hellebuyck

Hellebuyck joins the Devils with save quality that grades 67 out of 100 among goalies. His recent averages with Winnipeg include a 2.43 goals-against average and .914 save percentage over 166 games. He is listed day-to-day with an unspecified injury, so check he is in the lineup before starting him. New Jersey has three games left this week (Saturday, Tuesday, Wednesday) and three next week.

The 33-year-old provides elite goaltending to a Devils team that now owns one of the league's top netminders. His goals-saved-above-expected metrics and high-danger save rates place him among the best in the game. Managers rostering Hellebuyck need to monitor his day-to-day status closely, but once cleared he slots in as a top-tier fantasy option in a new uniform.

Dawson Mercer

Mercer averaged 0.48 points, 1.8 shots and 18:11 of ice time per game with New Jersey over 225 games in the model window. He saw second-unit power-play time (1:35 a night) with the Devils. Winnipeg's first unit runs through Cole Perfetti, Gabriel Vilardi, Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele and Neal Pionk. His underlying play grades 55 out of 100 among forwards.

The center arrives in Winnipeg with three games left this week (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday) and four next week. His 0.48 points per game with New Jersey came with 0.09 power-play points per game, and his new situation will determine whether he cracks a top unit that already features established scorers. He remains a hold while his role with his new club takes shape.

Alexander Command

Command moves to Winnipeg in the deal with no NHL data in the model window. Winnipeg's first power-play unit features Cole Perfetti, Gabriel Vilardi, Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele and Neal Pionk. The Jets have three games left this week (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday) and four next week.

Without a track record of NHL ice time or production, Command is a wait-and-see piece in the trade. His role in Winnipeg will need to develop before he registers as a fantasy option.

Nick Bjugstad

Bjugstad is on injured reserve following surgery and cannot play until activated. He averaged 0.24 points, 1.5 shots and 10:52 of ice time per game with New Jersey over 194 games. His underlying play grades 50 out of 100 among forwards. He saw almost no power-play time (0:04 a night) with the Devils.

The move to Winnipeg does nothing for fantasy lineups until he returns from injured reserve. Once healthy, he profiles as a depth forward with limited special-teams involvement. Winnipeg has three games left this week and four next week, but Bjugstad will not appear in any of them.

Nico Daws

Daws moves to Winnipeg with a 2.92 goals-against average and .901 save percentage over 35 games with New Jersey. The Jets have three games left this week (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday) and four next week. His role in Winnipeg's crease remains to be determined after the departure of Hellebuyck.

With Hellebuyck gone, Winnipeg needs to fill a massive void in net. Daws arrives with modest numbers from his time in New Jersey, and whether he steps into a starter's workload or splits duties will shape his fantasy value. He is a hold until the Jets clarify their goaltending plans.

What to do

• Monitor Hellebuyck's day-to-day injury status closely, as he remains a top-tier fantasy goalie once cleared to play for New Jersey.

• Hold Dawson Mercer while his role in Winnipeg's lineup and power-play rotation becomes clear.

• Do not add or start Nick Bjugstad, who is on injured reserve and cannot play until activated.

• Watch how Winnipeg deploys Nico Daws in the wake of Hellebuyck's departure before making any roster moves.

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