The reason, finally on the record
Connor Hellebuyck had kept the why to himself for months. On Tuesday, back in Winnipeg for the first time since the Jets moved him to New Jersey, he gave it. Threats aimed at his family, online and otherwise, were a key factor in his decision to ask out.
“There were some moments and some things that happened to my family that, for me, crossed the line,” the goaltender told local reporters. “I needed to be a good husband, a good father and do what’s best for my family and my career.”
He stopped there. Hellebuyck would not describe the threats, would not say whether they came from Winnipeg, and asked that his family’s privacy be respected. “I’ve loved my time here but there are a few moments that I don’t want to see happen again,” he said. He and his wife Andrea have two young children.
no renewal
Free for 2 weeks.
From gold medal to trade request
The context matters. Hellebuyck backstopped the United States to Olympic gold in February, beating Canada 2-1 in overtime in the final. He was among the American players who later visited the White House, where President Donald Trump gave him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, at a time when Trump was deeply unpopular in Canada over tariffs. Whether the political climate had anything to do with the threats is not known.
He went public with the trade request on Aug. 27, saying he had first asked at the end of the 2025-26 regular season, then skipped training camp despite five years left on his seven-year, $59.1 million deal. The Jets dealt him on Oct. 23 for Dawson Mercer, Nick Bjugstad, goalie Nico Daws, prospect Alexander Command (the 12th pick in 2026) and two draft picks.
No homecoming start
He will watch Tuesday’s game from the bench. Jake Allen gets the net, and Devils GM Sunny Mehta called it “an organizational decision,” saying playing Hellebuyck could reduce the team’s “expected win probability.”
It is a cautious call for a goalie who has been perfect so far in New Jersey: 5-0 with a 1.96 GAA, including Sunday’s 4-0 shutout of Toronto. His Winnipeg ledger reads 345-208-55 over 625 games, with a .916 save percentage.
Discover the rest of our NHL news on MathODDS!
in your pocket.
Real-time notifications & alerts
Leave a Reply