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Connor Hellebuyck will travel to Winnipeg on Tuesday, but he will not step onto the ice at Canada Life Centre. The New Jersey Devils announced after Sunday’s 4-0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs that their star goaltender will sit out the game against his former team, marking his first return to Winnipeg since forcing a trade out of the city.
An Organizational Decision
Devils general manager Sunny Mehta confirmed the choice came after significant internal discussion. “Connor Hellebuyck was adamant that he felt a duty to play on Tuesday in Winnipeg,” Mehta said in a statement. “However, in our estimation, playing in this game would potentially give us a reduction in our expected win probability.”
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Hellebuyck himself expressed disappointment but accepted the decision. “Selfishly, I want to play,” he said Sunday night at Scotiabank Arena. “But when you’re looking at what’s best for the team, I understand where they’re coming from.”
Head coach Sheldon Keefe echoed that reasoning. He noted Hellebuyck missed training camp and has played only five games since joining New Jersey. “We had to make it clear to Connor why,” Keefe said. “In his words, he really felt it was his duty to go and play.” Keefe also acknowledged the emotional weight of the matchup for Jets fans.
A Decorated Career in Winnipeg
The Jets traded Hellebuyck to New Jersey on October 23 in a deal that included forward Dawson Mercer, goaltender Nico Daws and a 2029 second-round pick. The move ended his 11-season tenure with Winnipeg, during which he posted a 349-208-55 record, a .916 save percentage, 2.58 goals-against average and 45 shutouts.
Hellebuyck, a three-time Vezina Trophy winner and the 2024-25 Hart Trophy recipient as NHL MVP, also backstopped Winnipeg to the Western Conference final in 2018. More recently, he made 41 saves to help the United States defeat Canada 2-1 in overtime at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympic men’s hockey final.
He signed a seven-year, US$59.1-million contract extension in October 2023, but informed the organization shortly after that he wanted out. Five seasons remain on that deal.
Looking Ahead to Tuesday
Despite sitting out, Hellebuyck plans to speak to the media before Tuesday’s game. He acknowledged the tension surrounding his departure but chose a measured tone. “I know there’s a pretty sour taste in Winnipeg,” he said. “But I’m going to choose love. I’m going to choose to remember all those moments and the community coming together.”
He also hinted that a fuller explanation is coming. “It’s an extremely complex decision,” he said. “No one’s really nailed it on the head. I have nothing but respect for the organization and the guys in the Jets locker room. We’ll talk about it Tuesday.”
Meanwhile, Hellebuyck has been sharp with New Jersey. He improved to 5-0-0 with a .913 save percentage and 1.96 goals-against average on Sunday. The Devils have also won nine of their last 10 games.
