The NHL’s biggest trade saga is finally over. Connor Hellebuyck is a New Jersey Devil, and the price Winnipeg received for its franchise goaltender could change the balance of power in the Eastern Conference.
The Devils surrendered six assets to acquire the three-time Vezina Trophy winner on Friday, ending months of uncertainty surrounding Hellebuyck’s future. Now the conversation shifts from where he will play to whether New Jersey has just acquired the missing piece of a Stanley Cup contender.
Elsewhere, Connor McDavid is producing points at an extraordinary pace, Nathan MacKinnon delivered a four-point performance against Tampa Bay, and Montreal found a way to win without injured captain Nick Suzuki.
Saturday’s NHL news, NHL rumors and NHL scores also include Edmonton’s mounting injury concerns, trade speculation involving Dylan Larkin and Quinn Hughes, and an important weekend for several Canadian teams.
Here’s what matters around the NHL on October 24, including my analysis of the Hellebuyck blockbuster and every final score from Friday night.
Latest NHL News and Trade Rumors: What Matters on October 24
Connor Hellebuyck Traded to New Jersey Devils in Six-Asset Blockbuster
For months, Connor Hellebuyck’s uncertain future dominated NHL trade discussions. On October 23, the Winnipeg Jets finally completed the move that reshapes two franchises.
New Jersey acquired Hellebuyck in exchange for:
- Dawson Mercer, forward
- Nico Daws, goaltender
- Nick Bjugstad, forward
- Alexander Command, unsigned prospect rights
- New Jersey’s 2029 second-round draft pick
- New Jersey’s 2027 seventh-round draft pick
The trade was confirmed by both teams and the NHL’s official trade tracker.
For Winnipeg, the transaction closes a difficult chapter. Hellebuyck requested a trade during the offseason, did not report for training camp, and was suspended by the organization. The trade was completed on the day that suspension was scheduled to end.
For New Jersey, the message is unmistakable: this organization believes its championship opportunity is opening now.
The Devils already possessed an appealing foundation featuring Jack Hughes, Luke Hughes, Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt. Acquiring Hellebuyck gives the club an established elite goaltender with significant experience carrying a heavy workload.
His contract carries an $8.5 million annual salary-cap hit through the 2030–31 season.
This isn’t a rental or a short-term gamble. It’s a long-term commitment to an accomplished goaltender entering his age-33 season.
My analysis: New Jersey has made a calculated bet that elite goaltending can transform a talented roster into a genuine championship contender. The difficult part isn’t acquiring a famous name. It’s determining whether the player still delivers elite performance over the remaining years of his contract.
Hellebuyck posted an outstanding .925 save percentage during his 2024–25 Hart Trophy-winning season but slipped to .895 in 2025–26.
That’s the number I would focus on more than his awards.
If New Jersey gets the 2024–25 version of Hellebuyck, this move could look brilliant. If last season’s struggles continue, the Devils may find themselves managing an expensive commitment while trying to preserve depth elsewhere.
Connor Hellebuyck Trade Analysis: Did the Devils Pay Too Much?
The initial reaction to the trade package might be that Winnipeg surrendered a superstar without receiving another established superstar in return.
However, the return becomes more interesting when examining the individual pieces.
Dawson Mercer is only 24 and has already accumulated more than 400 NHL appearances. He gives Winnipeg an established young forward with versatility, offensive upside and the potential to remain part of the team’s next competitive core.
Nico Daws provides another goaltending option, although he shouldn’t automatically be projected as Hellebuyck’s replacement.
Alexander Command represents an important future asset. Winnipeg also adds a 2029 second-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round selection.
Nick Bjugstad offers veteran experience, although his injury status complicates the immediate on-ice return.
Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff told NHL.com he was “very comfortable” with the outcome.
My interpretation is that Winnipeg prioritized spreading risk across multiple assets rather than attempting to land one expensive replacement star.
For New Jersey, it is the opposite strategy: concentrate several assets into one potentially franchise-changing player.
My early trade verdict: New Jersey has the more immediate Stanley Cup upside. Winnipeg has added valuable flexibility and several opportunities for the return to grow over time.
Neither outcome can be judged fairly after one weekend.
Inside the Hellebuyck Blockbuster
Devils vs. Jets | Confirmed October 23, 2026
What Winnipeg Received
Annual Cap Commitments Exchanged
Original Goaltending Impact Model
What could a difference in save percentage mean over a hypothetical 1,500 shots?
The higher save percentage would mean 30 fewer goals allowed across the same shot volume. This illustrates why Hellebuyck’s performance matters; it is not a forecast or a goalie-adjusted expected-goals model.
Trade-Value Assessment
New Jersey: Higher immediate star-level upside and a significant long-term contract commitment.
Winnipeg: Three roster players, unsigned prospect rights and two picks spread the potential return across multiple assets.
Editorial verdict: Devils for immediate upside; Jets for diversified asset value. Neither is an objective trade grade.
Source: PuckPedia, October 23 trade breakdown. Cap hits are annualized contract figures, not a live cap-space calculation. LTIR, roster status, daily accrual and bonuses can change actual team cap positions. Model and trade-value assessment: NHLTradeRumor.com editorial analysis.
Dylan Larkin and Quinn Hughes Remain at the Centre of NHL Rumors
With Hellebuyck finally traded, attention naturally shifts toward the next potential blockbuster.
Detroit Red Wings centre Dylan Larkin and Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes remain two names worth following.
According to reporting surrounding Larkin’s expanded list of acceptable destinations, New Jersey is among the teams he would consider.
Meanwhile, discussions about Hughes’ long-term future in Minnesota continue to fuel speculation about a possible reunion with his brothers, Jack and Luke, in New Jersey.
NHL insiders Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek have discussed potential connections between these situations.
Here’s where I would separate genuine reporting from fantasy roster building.
There is no confirmed Larkin or Quinn Hughes trade to New Jersey.
And acquiring Hellebuyck doesn’t automatically mean the Devils will make another blockbuster move.
New Jersey has already removed Mercer, Command and two future picks from its collection of trade assets. The organization must also account for Hellebuyck’s substantial salary commitment.
Those restrictions matter.
In my view, the more realistic short-term question is how the Devils build around their new goaltender without weakening the forward depth and defensive structure required for a long playoff run.
If Hughes eventually becomes available, New Jersey will understandably attract attention. But Minnesota currently controls his contractual rights and has strong reasons to retain him.
As for Larkin, his situation should be evaluated separately until credible reporting connects a specific offer, negotiating development or completed transaction to another club.
Connor McDavid’s Remarkable Start Gives Edmonton a Major Advantage
Connor McDavid is doing something that has become increasingly difficult to describe without repeating the same superlatives.
Through his first 10 games, the Edmonton Oilers captain has accumulated 31 points, including eight goals and 23 assists.
That puts McDavid among an extraordinarily small group of NHL players to record 30 points within 10 games of a season.
His 10-game assist streak to open the schedule also puts him in historic company.
Edmonton enters Saturday’s matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs with an 8-1-1 record, giving this Canadian rivalry an additional layer of intrigue.
McDavid’s production is remarkable, but what interests me most is how quickly Edmonton’s opponents must adjust.
When a player is creating offence at more than three points per game, traditional defensive matchups become increasingly difficult to manage.
Do you assign your best checking line to McDavid and risk exposing yourself elsewhere? Or attempt to pressure Edmonton’s supporting players and hope your goaltender handles the resulting chances?
Toronto will be facing those questions while dealing with significant defensive injuries.
My biggest concern for Edmonton is not its offence. It’s whether injuries to key players eventually undermine the team structure supporting McDavid’s extraordinary production.
Oilers and Maple Leafs Face Important Injury Questions
Edmonton’s injury report has grown more concerning ahead of Saturday’s game.
Goaltender Devon Levi has been placed on injured reserve after sustaining an undisclosed injury during Thursday’s shootout victory over Carolina.
Levi has recorded six wins in seven starts this season.
The Oilers also expect defenseman Mattias Ekholm to miss approximately one to two weeks following an injury sustained against the Hurricanes.
Edmonton recalled Matt Tomkins under emergency conditions.
Toronto is facing its own defensive problems.
Nick Blankenburg and Marshall Rifai are both considered week-to-week following injuries connected to Thursday’s victory over the New York Rangers.
The Maple Leafs subsequently recalled Cole McWard and Dakota Mermis.
John Tavares also remains sidelined.
My observation: Injuries can influence a trade market faster than a losing streak.
A team missing multiple NHL defensemen may suddenly place greater value on reliable depth than on acquiring another high-profile offensive player.
That doesn’t establish that Toronto or Edmonton has a trade imminent, but it does explain why defensive depth should remain a central storyline over the coming weeks.
Montreal Canadiens Find a Way to Win Without Nick Suzuki
Montreal delivered one of Friday’s more important performances, defeating the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 at United Center.
Jake Evans scored twice and added an assist, including a shorthanded goal that gave Montreal the lead.
Kaiden Guhle contributed a goal and an assist, while Jacob Fowler made 20 saves.
Connor Bedard scored Chicago’s only goal.
The Canadiens were without captain Nick Suzuki, who is expected to miss two to four weeks with an upper-body injury.
Rather than allowing that absence to dictate the outcome, Montreal received important contributions from players further down the lineup.
I believe that is the most encouraging part of this result.
Every NHL team can occasionally survive without a star player. The teams that consistently remain competitive usually have enough structure and depth to navigate an extended absence.
Evans doesn’t need to produce three points every night for Montreal to be successful. But the Canadiens do need their supporting players to accept additional responsibility while Suzuki recovers.
Montreal now prepares to meet the Winnipeg Jets in Sunday’s Heritage Classic outdoor game.
That matchup gains an entirely different emotional backdrop following Hellebuyck’s departure.
NHL Scores Yesterday: Friday, October 23, 2026
Only two NHL regular-season games were played Friday.
Montreal defeated Chicago 4-1, while Colorado beat Tampa Bay 6-3.
The NHL scores module below provides every final result, standout performances and the most important developments from each game.
Friday Night NHL Scores
October 23, 2026
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MTL | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| CHI | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Game Notes & Standouts
- Jake Evans: 2 goals and 1 assist, including a second-period shorthanded winner.
- Kaiden Guhle: 1 goal and 1 assist. Mike Matheson added an empty-net goal.
- Jacob Fowler: 20 saves. Connor Bedard scored Chicago’s lone goal.
- Special teams: Chicago went 0-for-5 on the power play. Montreal played without Nick Suzuki.
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TBL | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| COL | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
Game Notes & Standouts
- Nathan MacKinnon: 1 goal and 3 assists for Colorado.
- Martin Necas: 1 goal and 2 assists. Nazem Kadri scored his first of the season.
- Jake Guentzel: 2 goals for Tampa Bay.
- Mackenzie Blackwood: 31 saves as Colorado stopped Tampa Bay’s three-game winning streak.
- Nikita Kucherov: Remains tied with Steven Stamkos at 1,137 points on Tampa Bay’s franchise list.
Other NHL Injury and Roster News Worth Following
Several developments could shape team lineups this weekend.
Pittsburgh will be without Evgeni Malkin because of illness, while Bryan Rust remains sidelined with a lower-body injury.
Washington expects Pierre-Luc Dubois and Justin Sourdif to return after illnesses, but goaltender Logan Thompson remains day to day.
Philadelphia has activated Rasmus Ristolainen from injured reserve, providing a potential defensive boost.
Anaheim defenseman Pavel Mintyukov has been placed on injured reserve.
For fantasy hockey managers, the message is straightforward: confirm starting goaltenders and active rosters before Saturday’s games.
For NHL general managers, these developments are reminders of how quickly injuries expose weaknesses in organizational depth.
NHL Games to Watch Saturday, October 24
Saturday offers a much busier NHL schedule, with 12 games.
Three matchups stand out.
Los Angeles Kings at New Jersey Devils — 3:30 p.m. ET: New Jersey plays its first game since landing Hellebuyck, although the goaltender isn’t expected to play. The Devils have won four of their previous five.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Edmonton Oilers — 7 p.m. ET: McDavid’s historic opening stretch meets a Toronto team dealing with defensive injuries. The matchup also provides a valuable measuring stick for both clubs.
San Jose Sharks at Boston Bruins — 7 p.m. ET: David Pastrnak and the Bruins look to extend their strong start against Macklin Celebrini and San Jose.
Elsewhere, Buffalo visits Washington in Alex Tuch’s first game against his former team.
The bigger picture is that the NHL season is already developing competing narratives: teams pushing toward contention, organizations dealing with injuries and general managers reconsidering how to construct their rosters.
Final Take: Hellebuyck Changes the Conversation, but the Season Is Just Beginning
The biggest lesson from today’s NHL news is that one completed trade can change the priorities of several organizations.
New Jersey has acquired a proven star goaltender, Winnipeg has secured a diversified return, and teams around the league must reassess what it will take to compete in an increasingly difficult Eastern Conference.
For the Devils, the question now becomes whether Hellebuyck can rediscover his best form.
For the Jets, success will depend on how Mercer, Daws, Command and the additional assets develop.
Meanwhile, McDavid and MacKinnon continue reminding everyone that individual brilliance can still influence a game more than almost anything else.
My prediction: Hellebuyck’s early performances in New Jersey will attract enormous attention, but the most revealing evidence will come after the Devils have played enough games to establish a meaningful defensive and goaltending trend.
Until then, his trade deserves to be treated as a major opportunity — not proof that New Jersey has solved every problem.
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