The New Jersey Devils' biggest risk going into the 2026-27 season is goaltending. It’s just the reality. Nico Daws’ first preseason performance didn’t inspire confidence, though most agree you shouldn’t judge too much based on one preseason game. And it was just two goals against.
Still, the philosophy of going with Daws, Jake Allen, and David Rittich in net will be questioned until Mehta is proven right.
That is, unless a surprise happens before the season. That surprise could be a disgruntled goalie in Winnipeg.
The Jets are currently going through camp without Connor Hellebuyck. He is sitting out after the Jets failed to respond to his trade request. Now, they are held over a barrel.
More reports say the Jets have overplayed their hand and now have no suitors to take on their star in net. They asked for top draft picks or great young roster players. Teams were willing to pay a high price in June and July, but as the NHL Draft passed and teams made other moves, the suitors shrank.
As of now, the only consistent trade contender for Hellebuyck is the Buffalo Sabres. However, one of the reported key pieces in the trade is Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. On July 1st, a limited no-trade clause went into effect, likely stalling any trade options between the two teams.
The Devils can jump into the Connor Hellebuyck conversation
We understand that Devils GM Sunny Mehta has said he is fine with the Devils goaltending trio of Nico Daws, David Rittich, and Jake Allen, but we think that’s because of the difference in salary. The Devils are paying all three of their goalies a total of $3.9 million in cap space. Meanwhile, Hellebuyck is making $8.5 million.
The Devils will have no interest in paying any goalie that price, especially one entering his mid-30s. As elite as Hellebuyck has been, his age is a major question mark. The Jets already got the best years out of Hellebuyck, but he has four years left on his deal.
There is one way the team will be into a Hellebuyck trade, especially for what it would cost the Devils to acquire him. It will take significant retention.
If the Jets can get Hellebuyck’s contract to $5 million per season on the cap, then the Devils will be back in.
It’s a huge ask. This is asking a team to just hold $3.3 million on the cap for no reason. Well, the reason is to get a better return.
The Devils can give the Jets a decent return without severely impacting their NHL roster. They can give the Jets Daws, who would be replaced by one of the best goalies in the world, Dawson Mercer, who was in the original ask from the Jets back in 2023, and Seamus Casey. That would give the Jets three young roster players immediately.
To top it off, the Devils can give the Jets one of their first-round picks from 2027. It’s a big price for a goalie in this age group, but Hellebuyck is not Jacob Markstrom. He doesn’t have the failed seasons like the now-Florida Panthers goalie has. He was consistently great.
The Devils cannot afford an $8.5 million goalie. They can afford a $5 million goalie. The Jets will be retooling and can afford the retention in a rising cap world.
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