Connor Hellebuyck said Tuesday that his trade request from the Winnipeg Jets was driven by a lot more than hockey alone.
Speaking after the Devils’ morning skate at Canada Life Centre, Hellebuyck described the choice as “a very complex decision and a very difficult one,” and said it unfolded over time rather than in response to one isolated event.
“There’s no one singular moment that wasn’t important in all of this decision-making, and this is over a span of time.
“I will say, with all the uncertainty I was experiencing, there was some moments and some things that happened to my family that for me crossed the line and ... made that decision very certain that I needed to be a good husband and a good father and do what’s best for my family and my career.”
Hellebuyck did not spell out exactly what happened, but he said he and his family were subjected to troubling treatment.
“There are a few moments that I don’t wanna see happen again. And it is more than just online death threats,” Hellebuyck said.
“And I’m please gonna ask you to respect my privacy and my family’s privacy. I won’t go deeper than that.
But there was more that made me and family uncomfortable, on top of some uncertainty with my career. I felt that a change of scenery was what was best.”
A reporter at the session said the Jets were aware of the threats and had asked Hellebuyck for more information so they could help, but he declined to provide details, again pointing to his family’s privacy. When asked how he knew the threats came from Winnipeg, he would not answer.
He was also asked whether the 2026 Olympics played a role in his decision. Hellebuyck was one of three players from the United States’ gold-medal team to request a move after the Winter Games, along with Brady Tkachuk, whom the Ottawa Senators traded to the Florida Panthers, and Dylan Larkin, who is still waiting to be dealt by the Detroit Red Wings.
“I’d be lying to you if I said that my life hasn’t changed since the Olympics because it has in a very big way,” Hellebuyck said. “But when you’re looking at the border issues, I’ve had a good team around me. I’ve navigated my life here pretty well.
“Is there some difficulties with being an American playing in Canada? Definitely, but there’s also a lot of positives.
The hockey market in Canada is bizarre. It’s incredible to play in front of, and as a hockey player, you love that.
I don’t want to speak anything poorly on one or the other. They’re both just different markets, and I enjoy both of them, and I’ve enjoyed my time (in Winnipeg).
And I don’t want to say that there is a border issue in this decision.”
Hellebuyck was the standout in the gold-medal game for the United States, stopping 41 shots in a 2-1 overtime win even though Canada outshot the U.S. 42-28.
The Devils said Sunday that Hellebuyck would not start Tuesday’s game in Winnipeg, the only time New Jersey visits Canada Life Centre this season.
In Other News...
Hellebuycks Winnipeg Return Just Reopened A Frustrating Jets Breakup
Connor Hellebuycks return to Winnipeg has already brought an awkward old chapter back into focus. Now with the New Jersey Devils, the former Jets goaltender spent time with the media in the city where he built so much of his career, thanking the fans and making clear he still has appreciation for the place he once called home. He also revisited the circumstances that led to his trade request, saying personal and family factors were part of the decision to move on.
The on-ice reunion will come with an unexpected wrinkle, since Hellebuyck will not start in the game. He said he disagrees with the choice, even as he has put together a strong record with New Jersey, and the decision only adds another layer to a breakup that never really felt clean in the first place. For Jets fans, it is a reminder that the end of his Winnipeg run was shaped by more than hockey, and the return has reopened questions that were never fully settled. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Fans Must Wait Longer For Connor Hellebuyck's Winnipeg Return
Connor Hellebuycks first trip back to Winnipeg will have to wait a little longer. The Jets announced Jake Allen will get the start in goal against the New Jersey Devils, keeping the former Winnipeg netminder on the sideline for a night that had carried a little extra weight for fans and a few familiar faces in the room. Head coach Scott Arniel and captain Adam Lowry both acknowledged the emotional layer attached to Hellebuycks return, which had been one of the more anticipated storylines around this matchup.
For Winnipeg, it pushes the reunion to a later date and leaves the focus on the goaltending plan in front of a Devils team that still brings plenty of intrigue. The clubs will see each other again later in the season in Newark, giving Hellebuyck another chance to return to a building where he once played a central role. For now, though, Jets fans will have to keep waiting for the full homecoming. [Read more 🡒]
Moose Depth Faces Its Biggest Test Yet In Texas
The Manitoba Moose have spent the first stretch of the 2026-27 season proving their depth can travel. Even with a depleted lineup, they found a way to take two games from the Toronto Marlies and keep their strong start rolling, sitting second in the Central Division as they head into a tougher road test against the Texas Stars.
What makes the next stop feel different is the pressure building around the roster itself. Manitoba has already leaned on its structure and next-man-up mentality to get through an impressive opening run, but the challenge in Texas will be a more demanding measure of how far that depth can carry them when the lineup is stretched and the opposition is waiting to expose any cracks. [Read more 🡒]