The New Jersey Devils announced on Sunday night that Connor Hellebuyck will not start against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday, in what was supposed to be his return to the city where he spent eleven seasons. General manager Sunny Mehta said Hellebuyck had been adamant about playing.
Hellebuyck backed that up when he spoke afterwards.
“I’m disappointed I won’t be able to face the music in Winnipeg,” he said, via Chris Johnston. “I love Winnipeg. Selfishly, I want to play.”
He said the decision had been taken out of his hands and that he accepted it.
“When you’re looking at the team and what’s best for the team, I understand where they’re coming from,” Hellebuyck said, adding that however he is perceived on Tuesday night, he intends to choose love.
Connor Hellebuyck in Winnipeg:
| Seasons | Games | Wins | Vezina Trophies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 625 | 345 | 3 |
Did Connor Hellebuyck choose not to play in Winnipeg?
Two separate accounts, his and the club’s, say he pushed to be in the net and was overruled. Neither has persuaded many of the people who have spent two months following this saga.
“Sure he is. He’s hiding behind the organization,” one wrote.
“Did he really think people would believe this?” asked another.
“This has to be the biggest display of cowardice in NHL history. I can’t think of anything that comes close,” said a third.
The comparison doing the most damage involves a player who did go back. Brady Tkachuk returned to Ottawa last month, took three periods of booing, had his tribute video drowned out, watched 37 of his old jerseys land on the ice and scored anyway.
“Absolute coward. I can’t believe I’m defending Brady, but at least he faced the music,” one fan wrote.
What nobody disputes is the goaltending record. Hellebuyck has started five games for New Jersey and won all five, including a shutout of Toronto on Sunday, which makes Mehta’s stated reasoning about a reduction in expected win probability difficult to follow. Head coach Sheldon Keefe separately cited workload.
Hellebuyck leaves Winnipeg as the most decorated goaltender in franchise history, with 625 games and 345 wins across eleven seasons, three Vezina Trophies and the Hart he won in 2024-25.
He will meet reporters after Tuesday’s morning skate at Canada Life Centre, an availability arranged at his own request, and says he will explain there why he asked to leave.
Read more:
