Trade for Connor Hellebuyck Will Turn This Team into Stanley Cup Champions

The New Jersey Devils had a historic season last year which saw them eventually fall in the second round due to poor goaltending. With a tandem of Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid, the Devils were able to defeat a very strong Rangers team but eventually crumbled. The youthful team seems to be missing one thing and that is an elite goaltender.

They have been linked to Connor Hellebuyck for some time now and if they went on and acquired him, they would instantly become Cup favorites.

This recent trade proposal that sends Connor Hellebuyck to the Devils has surfaced and is quite intriguing.

This trade works well for both sides. The Devils acquire their win-now piece while the Jets acquire a reputable goalie, a top young player, and a pick to pair with it all.

Vanecek posted a .911 sv% and 2.45 GAA with the Devils last year in 52 games as their starter. While these are not eye-popping numbers, they are certainly solid and would likely translate to the Jets. He would be the immediate replacement for Hellebuyck.

Holtz is the centerpiece of this deal. The 7th overall pick from 2020 has yet to break out at the NHL level due to the backlog of talent in the Devils system. He has point per game upside yet will not get a proper shot at developing with the Devils over the next few years. Holtz would be given lots of ice time in Winnipeg which could help his development and eventually prove to be an invaluable addition for them.

Finally, the Jets will also pick up a 1st round pick in 2024 but it will be a very late first-round pick which is not as valuable as the preconceived notion of what a first-round pick is worth.

The Devils sound like they are giving up a lot and that is because they are getting one of the best goaltenders on earth. Hellebuyck is one of the few true starters in the NHL who can play 65+ games on a consistent basis and play at a high level in every single one. He finished last season with a .920 sv% which is quite impressive considering the workload.

If he fills the Devils' single hole, it is hard to see them finishing short of a Stanley Cup.