Connor Hellebuyck reveals what happened to his family in Winnipeg that pushed him to request a trade
Photo credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Connor Hellebuyck says what his family experienced in Winnipeg pushed him to request a trade, giving fans their clearest explanation yet for his exit.
Connor Hellebuyck has given his clearest explanation yet for leaving the Winnipeg Jets.
Speaking in his first trip back to the city since the trade to the New Jersey Devils, the goaltender said events involving his family in Winnipeg went too far, and that pushed him into asking for a move.
The posts carrying his comments really hits hard and can be seen below.
"There was some moments and some things that happened to my family that for me crossed the line … There were a few moments that I don't want to see happen again. It's more than just online death threats and I'm gonna ask you to respect my privacy and my family's privacy, I won't go deeper than that, but there's more that made me and my family uncomfortable. On top of some uncertainty with my career, I felt a change of scenery was best."
- Connor Hellebuyck
- Connor Hellebuyck
A Firmer Answer After Weeks of Silence
Until now, Hellebuyck had kept things deliberately general.
In an Instagram letter to Jets fans last week, he cited difficult circumstances involving his family and asked people to respect their privacy.
The latest comments tie the decision more directly to what his family went through in Winnipeg.
What exactly happened has not been spelled out in the reporting available so far as it appears Hellebuyck doesn't want to disclose it all.
The timeline gives the explanation extra weight.
Hellebuyck confirmed publicly on Aug. 27 that he had asked for a trade months earlier, then skipped training camp and was suspended by the Jets.
All of it came just two years after he signed a seven-year extension.
Winnipeg finally moved him in late October, receiving Nick Bjugstad, Dawson Mercer, Alexander Command, Nico Daws, a 2029 second-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick.
A Homecoming Without a Start
Hellebuyck wanted to play Tuesday and told the organization he felt a duty to.
The Devils decided otherwise, saying a start would potentially lower their expected win probability.
He called himself disappointed but understanding.
It is a defensible choice for a team whose goalie is 5-0 with a 1.96 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage, even if it denied Jets fans the chance to react in person.
For Winnipeg, the picture is mixed. The Jets lost their all-time leader in goalie wins (345) and shutouts (45), slid through a nine-game losing streak after a 4-1-1 start, then snapped it with a historic four-goal comeback in Montreal.
Whether a family explanation softens the mood in Winnipeg is the open question.
Some supporters will see a father protecting his home, while others will still see a star who walked away from a long-term commitment.
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