Ryan Whitney could not understand the New Jersey Devils‘ decision to keep Connor Hellebuyck out of Tuesday’s game in Winnipeg. Paul Bissonnette, sitting across from him on Spittin’ Chiclets, took the opposite position entirely.
“I disagree with Witt. I love this f***ing move,” Bissonnette said.
His reasoning had nothing to do with goaltending. The season has already produced a run of these situations, and he has enjoyed every one.
“We got the Larkin thing where he’s not moved. He went there, left again. Now he’s at home sitting there,” Bissonnette said. “We got Brady going into the eye of the storm. We get 18 different chants. He’s laughing at the crowd during his ceremonial video.”
Winnipeg was supposed to be the next one.
“We’re all thinking, oh, for sure man, we got Hellebuyck going back,” he said. “And even if he’s backing up, he’s gonna be sitting where the fans are, because that’s where they sit. That’s worse. He’s gonna have to have the Popemobile ready to go so he doesn’t get s*** thrown at him.”
New Jersey’s season:
| Record | Winning streak | Hellebuyck’s starts | Hellebuyck’s wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13-5-0 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Who is Devils general manager Sunny Mehta?
The statement that set all this off came from a man who made his name in precisely the field Bissonnette is mocking. Mehta built his career in hockey analytics before moving into the general manager’s chair, which is how a phrase like expected win probability ended up in a press release about a goaltender’s homecoming.
That’s the part Bissonnette found funniest.
“Then they come out with a quote straight from the data center, falling right into his analytic lap,” he said. “And we get to hear fans talk about how their team are a bunch of cowards. I love this f***ing move.”
Nobody else in Winnipeg is laughing. Head coach Scott Arniel said on Monday that Hellebuyck “just gave up on us” and that the decision only drags the saga out, while captain Adam Lowry and Kyle Connor both said they were surprised.
The reasoning remains hard to follow on the numbers. Hellebuyck has won all five of his starts for New Jersey, including a 23-save shutout at Toronto on Sunday.
For what it’s worth, Bissonnette’s Brady comparison holds up. Tkachuk went back to Ottawa last month, took three periods of abuse, had his tribute video drowned out and watched 37 jerseys hit the ice, then scored the opening goal.
The clubs meet again in Newark on November 28.
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