The New Jersey Devils announced Sunday that goalie Connor Hellebuyck will not face the Jets on Tuesday night in his first trip to Winnipeg since his contentious trade demand was granted.
Hellebuyck said he is "disappointed" that he won't face his former team.
"Selfishly I want to play, but when you're looking at what's best for the team, I understand where they're coming from," he said Sunday night after the Devils' win in Toronto. "I love Winnipeg. Playing there again, just facing the music, seeing the reaction, it'd be nice. But it's out of my hands."
Devils general manager Sunny Mehta released a statement Sunday night citing a potential "reduction in our expected win probability" if Hellebuyck faced his former team for the first time. He played 11 seasons in Winnipeg.
"This has been an organizational decision for us that we've debated at length. Connor Hellebuyck was adamant that he felt a duty to play on Tuesday in Winnipeg. However, in our estimation, playing in this game would potentially give us a reduction in our expected win probability," Mehta said in the statement. "Even though Connor isn't playing, at his request, we will coordinate a media availability after Tuesday's morning skate."
Hellebuyck made 23 saves in a 4-0 shutout win over the Maple Leafs on Sunday night. He is 5-0-0 since joining the Devils with a 1.96 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage.
A former NHL MVP and three-time Vezina Trophy winner, Hellebuyck was suspended by the Jets after failing to report to training camp, having requested a trade from the team.
The 33-year-old, who backstopped the U.S. men's hockey team to Olympic gold this year, had four more years left on a seven-year deal he signed in October 2023. He was traded to the Devils on Oct. 23 in a multiplayer deal, waiving his no-movement clause to make the trade happen.
Jets fans have voiced their anger about Hellebuyck's desire to leave, and Tuesday night appeared likely to be another venomous homecoming in the NHL, following intense returns for Brady Tkachuk in Ottawa and Quinn Hughes in Vancouver this season.
Hellebuyck said he was informed in the past day or so that he would not get the start in Winnipeg.
"We definitely had a conversation. I told them my thoughts on it and they told me theirs. At the end of the day, I have to listen to them. I can only push so hard. I was adamant that I wanted to play. But it is what it is," he said.
Hellebuyck said he will explain why he wanted out of Winnipeg when he meets with the media Tuesday morning. He recently said in a statement that "very challenging circumstances" involving his family were among the reasons he requested a trade.
Whatever the reaction is locally, Hellebuyck said he expects to take the high road.
"I know there's a pretty sour taste," he said. "However I'm perceived, I'm going to choose love and to remember being part of that community."