NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Connor Hellebuyck is joining the New Jersey Devils and is very happy about it.
The 33-year-old three-time Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender met the media before New Jersey faced the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday and his eagerness to wear No. 37 for the Devils was evident.
“Sitting at home for so long was getting to me. For myself, I’m just really excited to play hockey again," Hellebuyck said after his suspension by the Winnipeg Jets for his failure to report to training camp led to Friday’s trade with New Jersey. “I’m joining a very skilled group. They brought me for a certain specific role. I’m really excited to fill that role, not only on the ice but off the ice as well.”
Hellebuyck spent 11 seasons with the Jets, including a Presidents’ Trophy-winning season in 2024-25, and helped the United States win gold at the Milan Cortina Olympics this year. A fifth-round draft pick in 2012 by Winnipeg, Hellebuyck is fifth on the U.S.-born goaltenders list with 345 career wins. Among U.S.-born goalies with 300 or more career starts, his .916 save percentage ranks fourth and 2.58 goals-against average ranks sixth.
Hellebuyck will share goaltending duties with 36-year-old Jake Allen.
The Devils sent forward Dawson Mercer, goalie Nico Daws, prospect Alexander Command, a 2029 second-round pick, a 2027 seventh-rounder and injured forward Nick Bjugstad to Winnipeg for Hellebuyck.
“Obviously having a goaltender of this pedigree come in here and support Jake is exciting," Devils coach Sheldon Keefe said. ”That should give the group more confidence."
General manager Sunny Mehta said Hellebuyck's excitement for his new destination was palpable within minutes of their initial conversation.
Hellebuyck has been skating in Michigan while trade talks continued. He has five seasons left on a seven-year contact with an annual salary cap hit of $8.5 million.
“He was like: ‘I’m ready, I’m packed. I’ll get in my car right now,'” Mehta said about his exchange with his new goalie.
Mehta laughed and said he told Hellebuyck: "Don’t do that.”
Mehta has been trying to improve a team that missed the playoffs two of the past three seasons and won just one playoff series since 2012. New Jersey has won six of its first 10 games this season.
“Everything is about winning. That is my goal every single day," Mehta said. ”This obviously makes us a better team. In my view it improves our team — and I was thrilled about my team coming out of camp."
When Hellebuyck plays his first game for New Jersey is still undetermined. He hasn't played in an NHL game since April 13, a 6-2 Jets loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. Winnipeg missed the playoffs last spring a year after finishing with an NHL-best 116 points.
Hellebuyck won 47 games in 2024-25. The Jets advanced past the second round only once during his tenure in Manitoba.
Hellebuyck said it's too early to address his feeling toward the city of Winnipeg and Jets fans. New Jersey visits Winnipeg on Nov. 10.
“There’s a lot I need to say," he said. ”Out of respect for them and the celebration of hockey, I’m going to postpone to a later date. I hope they know I care about them."
Hellebuyck added that winning gold with his now-teammate Jack Hughes — who scored the overtime goal against Canada in February for the Americans' first gold medal since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” team — has left an indelible mark on him.
“That’s one of those moments and memories that I will cherish forever. And I will probably hear how other people will cherish them forever," he said. “One of my favorite stories is, ‘Where were you when?’ People will tell me what they were doing during the gold-medal game. Those are my favorite stories to hear.”
The veteran netminder, a native of Commerce, Michigan, who played two seasons of college hockey at UMass-Lowell, added that he looks forward to playing home games in the U.S. after more than a decade calling Canada home.
Hellebuyck added that while he was unfamiliar with life in New Jersey at the moment, he is looking forward to discovering everything that comes with new surroundings — finding a home, favorite restaurants and new places to spend free time.
“I know I’m going to get a lot more of that here than in Canada because I don’t think they care much about it," he said of the gold-medal plaudits for the Olympic win over Canada. “This is closer to my family’s home. Just being in the USA will be very exciting for this next chapter in my career.”
See AP’s full NHL coverage here
FILE - Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) makes a save against a St. Louis Blues shot during the third period of Game 2 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Monday April 21, 2025. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
FILE - Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) makes a save on a shot by Ottawa Senators' Dylan Cozens (24) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Ottawa, Ontario, on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
FILE - Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck stands by the net during a time out from play against the Dallas Stars in the first period of an NHL hockey game, April 2, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester City's perfect start to the Premier League ended in a 2-1 loss at Aston Villa, allowing Arsenal to move level on points atop the standings on Saturday.
Also, Tottenham sealed its second win this week by beating 10-man Chelsea 2-0.
Nicolas Jackson scored both goals for Villa against a City that was aiming for an eighth straight league win. Victory extended Villa’s outstanding recent run to six wins from seven games in all competitions.
“It is incredible," Jackson said. "It was difficult but we got the win and that is the most important thing. Now we can focus on the next one.”
After City's defeat in the early kickoff, defending champion Arsenal took advantage by beating Everton 2-0 at Emirates Stadium.
Ezri Konsa and Gabriel Magalhaes scored in each half for Mikel Arteta's team, which is second on goal difference.
Spurs, without a league win until Monday against Coventry, followed that with a rare victory at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Penders inadvertently punched the ball into his own net and gave Spurs the lead and Cole Palmer was sent off soon after. Tottenham's win was sealed late by Mathys Tel.
Meanwhile, Fulham beat Coventry 1-0.
Konsa scored his first goal for Arsenal since joining from Villa at the start of the season and ended the champion's run of 13 games without scoring from a set-piece.
Last season's title victory relied heavily on Arsenal's scoring efficiency from corners, in particular, but Konsa's scrambled goal after seven minutes was its first in any competition this term, excluding penalties.
“A goal from a set-piece has felt like it has been coming. Today was the day,” Konsa said.
Gabriel was also on target, heading in the second in the 68th for his first of the campaign.
After showing its Champions League credentials with a 2-2 draw at Bayern Munich midweek, Arsenal strengthened its title defense with victory against Everton to move to neck and neck with City, with just goal difference separating them.
“We’re very happy with the victory, the performance and the week, because we were given a terrible schedule,” Arteta said. “We just have to focus on what we can do, and we’re very pleased with 90% of the performances and results.”
Villa is rapidly climbing the standings after a desperate start to the campaign saw it fail to win its opening four games and picked up just one point.
The difficult start was understandable after a hugely disruptive offseason when a raft of star players left the club including Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins, Konsa, Emi Martinez and Youri Tielemans.
Unai Emery, who transformed the club from relegation battler to Champions League contender, was forced to rebuild a team that won the Europa League last season, and has done that in double-quick time.
Villa's last defeat was on Sept. 12, to Nottingham Forest 2-1. Since then Emery's team is unbeaten.
Jackson is up to seven goals in all competitions. He fired the opener inside six minutes at Villa Park.
Erling Haaland headed City level in the second half, but Jackson got his second and the winner with a first-time finish that squirmed under goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
City fell to a fourth defeat at Villa Park in as many seasons.
“Emery is just a tactical genius. Especially against Man City at our place we have been really good," Villa defender Matty Cash said. “He always has a plan for something and is always coming up with new ideas. When you play against top teams you have to adapt and we did that today.”
Maresca said City would learn lessons from its first league defeat.
The Italian enjoyed a perfect start in England's top flight since succeeding Pep Guardiola in the offseason.
Villa joined Arsenal and European champion Paris Saint-Germain as the only teams to beat City in any competition this season.
“I don’t think we deserved to lose today, but we lost,” Maresca said. “You can always learn something.”
Bottom of the standings at the start of the week, Tottenham climbed to 12th after a victory at fierce London rival Chelsea.
After steering Spurs clear of relegation at the end of last season, coach Roberto De Zerbi might have earned the standout result of his short reign — only Tottenham's second victory at Stamford Bridge in 36 years.
“It’s a big moment for the fans, for the club, for the players also. They deserve this win,” De Zerbi said.
Spurs finished one place above the relegation zone in each of the past two seasons.
“We are working to change the last part of the history of this club,” he added.
Chelsea looked blunt in attack without the injured Joao Pedro and it was further hindered when Palmer was red-carded in the 80th for a second bookable offense.
“We are all disappointed with the result and the performance. Collectively and individually, we were not on our best level,” Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso said.
For Fulham, Oscar Bobb scored in the 80th to seal victory at Coventry.
James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
See AP’s full soccer coverage here
Chelsea's Maxence Lacroix, left, and Tottenham Hotspur's Micky van de Ven battle for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur in London, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (John Walton/PA via AP)
Arsenal's Kai Havertz, top, congratulates teammate Gabriel after he scored the second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Everton in London, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)
Arsenal's Kai Havertz, top, and Gabriel celebrate second goal scoring second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Everton in London, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)
Arsenal's Gabriel celebrates after scoring second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Everton in London, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)
Manchester City's Erling Haaland reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Manchester City in Birmingham, England, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Morgan Harlow)
Aston Villa's Nicolas Jackson, left, challenges for the ball with Manchester City's Marc Guehi during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Manchester City in Birmingham, England, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Morgan Harlow)
Aston Villa's Nicolas Jackson celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Manchester City in Birmingham, England, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Morgan Harlow)
