Home / Sports / Jets Trade Hellebuyck: Future in Command?
Jets Trade Hellebuyck: Future in Command?
23 Oct
Summary
- Winnipeg Jets traded Vezina winner Connor Hellebuyck to New Jersey.
- Alexander Command, an 18-year-old Swedish center, is the key return piece.
- Command's development will determine the success of the Hellebuyck trade.
The Winnipeg Jets have completed a significant trade, sending Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck to the New Jersey Devils. The return for the Jets centers on Alexander Command, an 18-year-old center from Danderyd, Sweden. Command was selected 12th overall in the 2026 NHL Draft by the Devils before being included in the Hellebuyck deal.
Command, a left-shot center listed at 6-foot-1 and 183 pounds, spent the 2025-26 season in the Swedish junior league, notching 44 points in 30 games. He also represented Sweden at the 2026 U18 World Championship, contributing three goals and four assists. He is currently splitting time between Orebro HK's senior and junior teams in the Swedish Hockey League, with seven goals and five assists in six junior games this season.
The timeline for Command's NHL debut remains uncertain, as he signed an extension with Orebro HK through the 2027-28 season. This suggests he will likely play the next two seasons in Sweden. The ultimate success of the Hellebuyck trade will be heavily influenced by Command's eventual development and performance in North America.
