Connor Hellebuyck asked the Winnipeg Jets to trade him in the spring, went public with it in August, skipped training camp, was suspended without pay for five weeks and was dealt to New Jersey on October 23. Through all of it he declined to say why.
On Wednesday he posted a “Letter to Jets Fans” on Instagram.
“I know my decision to request a trade was disappointing and frustrating for many people, especially those who supported me throughout my career,” Hellebuyck wrote. “I understand those feelings, and I want everyone to know it was an extremely difficult decision.”
Then he gave a reason, without giving the details.
“There were several considerations that went into my decision, including some very challenging circumstances involving my family,” he wrote. “After a lot of thought and discussion, we ultimately felt that making a change was the best thing for our family. We’ve chosen to keep those personal circumstances private, and I hope people can respect that.”
Hellebuyck’s Jets franchise records:
| Games | Starts | Wins | Shutouts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 625 | 615 | 345 | 45 |
Why did Connor Hellebuyck request a trade?
Almost everybody had assumed it was about winning. Reports through the summer suggested he had concluded Winnipeg wasn’t built to compete, and the eventual trade request was read everywhere as a verdict on the roster. His own account points somewhere else entirely, and he has drawn a line around how much of it he intends to share.
What he did spell out was gratitude, at some length.
“When I think about my years in Winnipeg, I’ll always be grateful for the life my family and I built there and for the people who became such an important part of it,” he wrote. “It’s where I grew as a player and where we started our family.”
He thanked owner Mark Chipman, general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and the organization for the trust they showed him, then the staff behind the scenes, then the supporters.
“To the great Jets fans who supported me and my family, thank you. I’ll never forget the pride I felt representing Winnipeg, and I wish the Jets and the entire community nothing but the best,” Hellebuyck wrote.
He leaves as the most decorated goaltender in franchise history across 11 seasons, with three Vezina Trophies and the Hart he won in 2024-25, when he went 47-12-3 as Winnipeg took the Presidents’ Trophy. He also backstopped the United States to Olympic gold in February, going 5-0 with a 1.18 goals-against average.
Things have started well in New Jersey. Hellebuyck is 3-0-0 with a 1.95 goals-against average, having beaten Edmonton in his home debut on Tuesday.
He plays in Winnipeg on November 10.
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