Connor Hellebuyck’s return to Winnipeg on Tuesday night was met with relentless boos, along with chants of “coward” and “Helle sucks,” as the embattled New Jersey Devils goaltender faced his former fans.
The Michigan native became persona non grata in Manitoba after backstopping Team USA to Olympic gold at the Milan-Cortina Games and later accepting the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Donald Trump, a deeply divisive figure in Canada amid the ongoing trade war.
Hellebuyck subsequently requested a trade from Winnipeg and was suspended by the Jets before being dealt to New Jersey late last month in exchange for several players, draft picks and other assets. He responded to the change of scenery by winning his first five starts with the Devils, allowing fewer than two goals per game during that run.
Despite that impressive 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.”
Devils coach Sheldon Keefe later said the decision was made to rest Hellebuyck ahead of a home-and-home series against the division-rival Washington Capitals. Regardless of the explanation, Hellebuyck did not play in New Jersey’s 4-2 loss to Winnipeg after telling reporters earlier Tuesday that threats against his family had helped prompt his trade request.
Connor Hellebuyck was booed throughout his return to Winnipeg and heard chants of “coward” and “Helle sucks” from Jets fans
Jets fans filled the Canada Life Centre with signs reading “hit the road” and “.886,” a reference to Hellebuyck’s save percentage during his disappointing 2023 playoff run
“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 Hellebuyck should have protected the Olympic gold medalist and Team USA hero from some of the hostility in Winnipeg. Instead, the move appeared to intensify the reaction inside the arena.
Fans vented their anger during pregame warmups before later chanting for the Devils to replace starter Jake Allen with Hellebuyck. 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, Hellebuyck said he wanted to be a “Jet for life.” Speaking before Tuesday’s game, he maintained that he had meant what he said.
“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.
Hellebuyck’s history of postseason struggles became another focus for his critics in Winnipeg
As Hellebuyck explained Tuesday, that unforeseen future involved not only death threats against his family but also other incidents he chose not to detail publicly.
Jets spokespeople had previously said Winnipeg police and team security became involved after threats against Hellebuyck escalated in the months before his 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 his Olympic triumph over Team Canada in the gold-medal game may have contributed to the backlash in Manitoba.
“I’m sure it did a little bit,” he said. “I don’t think it matters if it’s fair or not.”
Rather than sit on the bench, Hellebuyck remained in the Devils’ locker room during Tuesday’s game
“Those are accomplishments that I will never apologize for, and I will never speak negatively about,” the 33-year-old continued. “I know the sensitivity about what’s going on between the US and Canada, and I’ve never gotten into politics deeply with anyone because I’m a hockey player.”
Hellebuyck also said he wanted to play against Winnipeg and had made that position clear to the Devils. The team confirmed his account in its own statement.
“I’m 14 days into a new team, and they handle their business differently than I’m used to,” Hellebuyck 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.”
The hostility continued inside the Canada Life Centre, where Jets fans displayed signs reading “hit the road” and “.886,” referencing Hellebuyck’s save percentage during Winnipeg’s disappointing 2023 playoff run.
Jets coach Scott Arniel had said last week that he wanted Hellebuyck to be in goal 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%.”
