Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck booed in emotional Winnipeg return

Embattled New Jersey Devils goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was greeted by relentless boos and chants of “coward” and “Helle sucks” during his return to Winnipeg on Tuesday night. The Michigan native became persona non grata in Manitoba after helping Team USA win Olympic gold at the Milan-Cortina Games and later accepting the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Donald Trump, a divisive figure in Canada amid an ongoing trade dispute. Hellebuyck subsequently requested a trade from Winnipeg and was suspended by the Jets before joining New Jersey late last month in a deal involving several players, draft picks and other assets. He responded to the change of scenery by going 5-0 with the Devils over the previous few weeks, allowing fewer than two goals per game.

Despite his strong start in New Jersey, Hellebuyck was scratched for Tuesday’s game in Winnipeg. Devils general manager Sunny Mehta said in a statement that the goaltender would “potentially” lower the team’s “expected win probability.” Head coach Sheldon Keefe later said he wanted to rest Hellebuyck ahead of an upcoming home-and-home series with the division-rival Washington Capitals. Whatever the reason, Hellebuyck watched the Devils’ 4-2 defeat from the sidelines after saying earlier that day that threats against his family had contributed to his trade request. “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,” Hellebuyck told reporters before the game. “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.” In theory, scratching the Olympic gold medalist and Team USA hero could have spared him some of Winnipeg’s hostility. Instead, the decision appeared to intensify it.

Fans jeered throughout Hellebuyck’s pregame warmup before later chanting for the Devils to replace starter Jake Allen with him. Along with “coward,” the crowd shouted “Trump’s your daddy,” “where is Connor?” and “signed in pencil,” a reference to the seven-year, $60 million contract Hellebuyck signed with Winnipeg three years ago. At the time, he said he hoped to be a “Jet for life.” Speaking with reporters before Tuesday’s game, he maintained that he had been sincere. “And the day that I said I was a Jet for life, I meant it, but I also didn’t foresee the future that was going to happen,” he said. As Hellebuyck explained in Winnipeg, that unforeseen future included death threats against his family as well as other specific incidents he declined to describe.

Jets spokespeople previously said Winnipeg police and team security became involved as threats against Hellebuyck increased in the months leading up to the trade. “There were 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,” Hellebuyck said. “I needed to be a good husband and a good father and do what’s best for my family and my career.” Hellebuyck said he still feels a “strong emotional connection” to Winnipeg, but acknowledged that Team USA’s Olympic gold-medal victory over Canada may have intensified the backlash. “I’m sure it did a little bit,” he said. “I don’t think it matters if it’s fair or not. Those are accomplishments that I will never apologize for, and I will never speak negatively about.” The 33-year-old added: “I know the sensitivity about what’s going on between the US and Canada, and I’ve never gotten into politics deep with anyone because I’m a hockey player.”

Hellebuyck said he wanted to face Winnipeg and had communicated that wish to the Devils, who confirmed his account in a statement. “I’m 14 days into a new team, and they handle their business differently than I’m used to,” he said. “When I went in there and said my piece and said I felt it was my duty to play this game and said, ‘I want to play,’ I had a good conversation with [Keefe and Mehta], and I left that conversation understanding where they’re at.” Jets fans nevertheless filled Canada Life Centre with signs reading “hit the road” and “.886,” a reference to Hellebuyck’s save percentage during a disappointing 2023 playoff run. Jets head coach Scott Arniel said last week that he wanted Hellebuyck to play Tuesday. “He just gave up on us, and so it would be nice to just finally be done with this,” Arniel said Thursday. The Jets’ social media team delivered the final jab after the game, posting: “Expected Win Probability 100%.”