Ryan S. Clark Oct 23, 2026, 04:28 PM ET

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Ryan S. Clark is an NHL reporter for ESPN.

Technically speaking, Connor Hellebuyck 's suspension from the Winnipeg Jets did end Friday. It just had a different outcome with the three-time Vezina Trophy winner being traded to the New Jersey Devils .

Hellebuyck, who won the Hart Trophy in 2025, will go to the Devils in exchange for forward Dawson Mercer , forward Nick Bjugstad , goaltender Nico Daws , prospect center Alexander Command , a 2027 seventh-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick.

Let's take a look at what this means for both teams and how each front office performed:

New Jersey Devils

Grade: A

How Devils general manager Sunny Mehta arrived at this place goes back to one of his earliest moves. He knew the going rate to acquire a starting goaltender based on the return New Jersey received in late June when Mehta traded Jacob Markstrom to the Florida Panthers . Markstrom's trade brought back a return of three forwards.…