New Jersey Devils goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has revealed that his family received threats during his decade with the Winnipeg Jets, a situation that helped convince the NHL veteran to seek a trade earlier this season.
The 33-year-old father of two, who is married, discussed the matter publicly for the first time Tuesday in Winnipeg. Hellebuyck was scratched from the Devils’ game against the Jets, his former team. Coach Sheldon Keefe pointed to the club’s home-and-home series with the Washington Capitals as the reason for resting him in Winnipeg, where Hellebuyck spent the previous 10 years.
‘There were some moments and things that happened to my family that crossed the line for me,’ Hellebuyck told reporters. ‘There were a few moments I never want to see happen again. It was 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 into more detail than that, but there was more that made my family and me uncomfortable. Along with some uncertainty about my career, I felt a change of scenery was best.’
Hellebuyck maintained his decision not to disclose further details about the threats directed at his family.
He acknowledged that he wanted to play against Winnipeg before Keefe decided to leave him out of the lineup. In Manitoba, where he is now viewed by some Jets supporters as a traitor, fans had already criticized him over contentious contract negotiations and his eventual trade request.
‘From the outside, you can say, “You did this wrong, you did that wrong,” and maybe we did,’ Hellebuyck said of his exit from Winnipeg. ‘We’re human, and we can make mistakes along the way. But the way we handled it is how we wanted to handle it, and we’re going to continue handling it privately.
New Jersey Devils goaltender Connor Hellebuyck says threats against his family during his time with the Winnipeg Jets helped lead him to push for a trade this year
Hellebuyck previously said he planned to be a ‘Jet for life’ before requesting a trade from Winnipeg
Hellebuyck is nearing the end of a remarkable 2026, which included winning Olympic gold
‘To those who believe I was disloyal, there was also a great deal about what unfolded during that contract that I did not expect when I signed it,’ he later added.
Hellebuyck also addressed a memorable comment he made after signing a seven-year, $60 million contract with Winnipeg in 2023. At the time, he said he hoped to finish his career with the Jets.
‘When I said I was a Jet for life, I meant it. But I also couldn’t foresee what the future would bring,’ he said. ‘I’ve made my decision, and I’ve made it clear. I’ve sacrificed a lot to stand by it. If that isn’t enough, I don’t know what other answers I can give.’
The Michigan native stressed that his decision was not a reflection of Canada, where he said he enjoyed living and playing.
‘I don’t want to suggest this decision is about the border. I loved playing in Canada, and I’m enjoying my time in New Jersey,’ he said. ‘I don’t want to pit anyone against anyone else.
‘I understand the sensitivity surrounding the relationship between the United States and Canada. I’ve made my decision, and I’ve sacrificed a lot to follow through with it.’
Hellebuyck is approaching the end of an eventful 2026, a year that saw him win Olympic gold with Team USA at the Milan-Cortina Games, receive a suspension after failing to report to the Jets’ training camp and eventually move to the Devils.
Since joining New Jersey, Hellebuyck has gone 5-0 in the crease while allowing fewer than two goals per game.
The Devils announced Sunday that Hellebuyck would sit out Tuesday’s matchup in Winnipeg. A team statement said playing him could ‘potentially give us a reduction in our expected win probability,’ a description that struck fans as unusual given that he was coming off a 4-0 shutout of Toronto.
Keefe later said Devils general manager Sunny Mehta made the decision to keep Hellebuyck out of the lineup.
‘The competitor in me obviously wants to put Connor out there,’ Keefe told reporters. ‘Let’s go and get after it. But Sunny made the decision that he didn’t want Connor to be part of this.’
