Report: Islanders Were Almost A Third Team In Hellebuyck Trade
Rosner said that the Islanders could have served as a third team in a potential Hellebuyck deal depending on where he ended up, and the Jets had also been scouting the Islanders over the last few games.
New Jersey and Winnipeg ultimately completed the trade without a third team to absorb salary or take on a player for roster purposes.
Where The Islanders Fit
The Islanders are 5-3-2 through 10 games, and are still missing a goal scorer, and have questions on defense, so they’d been part of the conversation as a possible facilitator.
From what I was told, #Isles could’ve been a third-party broker in a Hellebuyck trade, depending on his destination, as @TheFourthPeriod said. Ultimately, NJD got him without one. WPG has been scouting NYI.
— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) October 23, 2026
It was reported Monday that at least three teams remained in the mix for Hellebuyck, and Elliotte Friedman said earlier this week that Buffalo, the Rangers, and Utah were the teams holding the keys.
Hellebuyck’s contract made any deal a bit complicated, since he’s in the third season of a seven-year, $59.5 million deal with an $8.5 million cap hit through 2030-31 and a full no-move clause through next July, when it becomes a 10-team approved trade list.
The Trade That Got Done
The Jets instead acquired forwards Dawson Mercer and Nick Bjugstad, goalie Nico Daws, prospect Alexander Command, a 2029 second-round pick, and a 2027 seventh-round pick from New Jersey in the deal, which came on the day Hellebuyck’s suspension ended.
Command is an 18-year-old center who was the 12th overall pick in the 2026 draft and is playing in Sweden with Orebro HK, while Mercer is 24 and was the 18th overall pick in 2020.
Hellebuyck is 33, went 23-23-11 with a 2.86 goals-against average and .895 save percentage last season, and publicly requested a trade in August after failing to report to training camp.
David Pagnotta: Re Connor Hellebuyck trade/Devils: I think Carolina was having conversations last night, I think Utah as well; some other teams...whether it was the Islanders...other clubs...speculation as to whether this would...evolve into a 3-way trade - The Sheet (10/23) ____ NHLRR: The Islanders would presumably only have been involved as some kind of facilitator in a 3-way, as had been speculated in the leadup to the official trade announcement
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) October 23, 2026
He forfeited about $928,000 over a 24-day suspension, and Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff said Friday he wished a deal had been completed several months ago, calling it a product of the difficulty of moving a goaltender.
New Jersey needed help in net, with Jake Allen and Daws combining for an .880 save percentage through 10 games before the trade.
Hellebuyck will return to Winnipeg on November 10 when the Jets host the Devils.
