New Jersey Devils goalie Connor Hellebuyck returned to Winnipeg for the first time since demanding a trade from the Jets — and it came with plenty of controversy.
Hellebuyck, 33, spoke to the media on Tuesday, November 10, and discussed his rationale for requesting the trade this summer. Before he even made up his mind, Hellebuyck said, “There was some moments and some things that happened to my family that, for me, crossed the line and, as a husband and a father, I felt made that decision very certain.”
The goalie confirmed the trade request in August, which came months after he helped guide Team USA to a gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Hellebuyck had played the first 11 seasons of his NHL career with the Jets. He was traded to the Devils last month.
“I wanted this to be clear, and that’s why I don’t want to try to ruin the relationship I have with the city,” Hellebuyck told reporters on Wednesday. “Because I’m not going to judge a few moments on the entire city. I’ve been very connected with this community, and I’ve loved my time here, but there are a few moments that I don’t want to see happen again. It is more than just online death threats, and I’m going to ask you to respect my privacy and my family’s privacy. I won’t go deeper than that.”
He added, “There was more that made me and my family uncomfortable on top of some uncertainty with my career. I felt that a change of scenery was what was best.”
Hellebuyck previously revealed that his wife, Andrea, had received criticism after he visited the White House and attended President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address after defeating Team Canada in the gold medal game at the Olympics.
“I don’t understand how she can take so much heat for just being with me as a hockey player,” he said at the time. “We’ve done nothing wrong, she’s done nothing wrong, my kids have done nothing wrong, and everyone in my family is happy.”
Hellebuyck did not play in his highly anticipated return to Winnipeg on Tuesday night, with the Devils citing “a reduction in our expected win probability” if he took the net. Devils backup goalie Jake in Hellebuyck’s place, with the Jets winning 4-2.
While he didn’t play in the game itself, Hellebuyck did take the ice for warm-ups and was heavily booed by the fans already in attendance. Some got up close to the glass, holding up signs reading, “My Favorite Connor Is KFC” and “Hit the Road Helle and Don’t Ya Come Back.”
During his press conference before the game, Hellebuyck addressed Jets fans who think he turned his back on them.
“To the people that feel I’ve been disloyal, well, there was also a lot that I was expecting not to happen,” Hellebuyck said. “The day I said I was a Jet for life, I meant it. But I also didn’t foresee the future that was going to happen. Like I said, it’s a complex decision. It’s a crazy road on how we’re here today.”
