Connor Hellebuyck won’t be in goal when the New Jersey Devils face the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night, and the reason goes well beyond hockey.
The Devils announced Sunday that Hellebuyck will not be between the pipes for the Nov. 10 matchup in Winnipeg, a game many had circled as a return to the city where he spent 11 seasons. Instead, the 33-year-old goalie is staying out of the spotlight after opening up about why he asked for a trade before this season.
Hellebuyck, who was fined just over $38,000 a day after not showing up, lost a total of $927,835.05 in salary before the move to New Jersey. He later met with reporters and pointed to threats and other incidents involving his family as the turning point.
“There was some moments and some things that happened to my family that for me crossed the line. … There were a few moments that I don’t want to see happen again.
It is more than just online death threats, and I’m gonna ask you to respect my privacy and my family’s privacy, I won’t go deeper than that. But there’s more that made me and my family uncomfortable.
On top of some uncertainty with my career, I felt that a change of scenery was best.”
Hellebuyck also said, “I needed to be a good husband and good father, and do what’s best for my family and my career.”
The timing adds another layer to a situation that already carried plenty of attention. Hellebuyck was the gold-medal-winning goalie for Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, with political tension running high before and after the Games.
For Winnipeg, the loss of Hellebuyck marks the end of a major chapter. He left as a three-time Vezina Trophy winner and the franchise’s all-time leader in wins by a goaltender.
The Devils and Jets won’t see each other again in Winnipeg until next season. Their meeting Tuesday is set for 7 p.m. ET.
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 🡒]
Hellebuyck Just Added A Painful Twist To His Jets Exit
Connor Hellebuycks trade request from the Winnipeg Jets has taken on a more personal edge, with the goaltender saying the decision was shaped by a complicated set of factors rather than one simple grievance. He acknowledged the challenges of being an American player in Canada, but said those issues were not the main reason he wanted out, leaving the impression that there was more behind the move than the usual hockey frustrations.
What he did make clear was that the situation had become difficult enough to involve his family, though he stopped short of going into specifics out of concern for their privacy. Now, with the New Jersey Devils ruling him out of their upcoming game in Winnipeg, the return trip has already taken on an awkward tone, and the full story of what pushed him to that point still remains out of public view. [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 🡒]