Home / NHL / NHL Trade Rumors: New Jersey Devils, Winnipeg Jets Seek Christmas Presents To Patch Lineups 

NHL Trade Rumors: New Jersey Devils, Winnipeg Jets Seek Christmas Presents To Patch Lineups 

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
Updated –
We may use AI tools to support content creation and editing. While we aim for accuracy via strict editorial standards, readers should independently verify important information. Ads on our site are served by Google AdSense and are not controlled or influenced by our editorial team.
NHL Trade Rumors: New Jersey Devils, Winnipeg Jets Seek Christmas Presents To Patch Lineups 

Fifteen days before Christmas, it’s about time to start shopping. 

Three months into the season, with roster inadequacies developing due to injury or underperformance, at least two NHL general managers, for different reasons, should be seeking quick fixes. 

The New Jersey Devils may need an in-family spark to retain their early-season momentum. 

The Winnipeg Jets could use a goaltending stopgap. 

Here is a look at why Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald and Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff may need to engineer a deal in the next few weeks. They could soon be in the market for help. 

NHL Trade Rumors Suggest New Jersey Devils Targeting ‘D’

Winners of eight of their opening nine games, the Devils appeared to be early Stanley Cup contenders until injuries started nibbling away at the organization’s depth.    

Since center Jack Hughes injured his hand in an off-ice incident, the club has struggled. 

The Devils also lost defenseman Brett Pesce for nearly a month after blocking a shot and have yet to activate Johnathan Kovacevic (knee). 

The Devils, who host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, have dropped five of their past six outings, dropping from first to fourth in the tight Metropolitan Division. 

One potential prize awaits Fitzgerald: Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes, whose contract extension talks have stalled. Uniting all three Hughes brothers (Quinn, Jack, and Luke) could prove to be a PR boon.

Winnipeg Jets Seeking Goalie Depth

Without goalie Connor Hellebuyck (knee), the Jets have been left behind in the Central Division by the fast-starting Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild.

That leaves the Jets fighting for one of the two wild-card spots in the ultra-competitive Eastern Conference. Good luck.

In his first six starts since Hellebuyck’s departure, backup goalie Eric Comrie went 1-4-1 with a .888 save percentage.

Hellebuyck underwent a minor arthroscopic knee procedure on Nov. 21. He was expected to miss four to six weeks. He returned to the ice for Wednesday’s practice.

If Cheveldayoff can pull off a deal for Los Angeles Kings netminder Erik Portillo, 24, or Buffalo Sabres’ Devon Levi, 23, he could add a prospect with NHL experience. It may be necessary if Hellebuyck’s knee problems worsen.

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  
All posts by Jeff Hawkins
Other News