Story Summary
Connor Hellebuyck will not start for the New Jersey Devils in his first return to Winnipeg after the club chose workload management over the emotional pull of facing the Jets. General manager Sunny Mehta said Jake Allen is expected to start at Canada Life Centre on Tuesday.
Hellebuyck made 23 saves in New Jersey’s 4-0 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday, his first shutout since joining the Devils from Winnipeg on Oct. 23. It was also his third start in six nights, and coach Sheldon Keefe said the Devils did not want him starting four times in eight nights with home-and-home games against the Washington Capitals to follow.
The decision comes against an unusually charged backdrop. Hellebuyck spent 11 seasons with the Jets, winning three Vezina Trophies and one Hart Trophy, but requested a trade before this season despite having five years left on the seven-year, $59.5 million contract he signed in October 2023. He said he is disappointed not to play, while accepting that the decision rests with the Devils.
Key Facts
- Connor Hellebuyck will not start for the New Jersey Devils against the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre on Tuesday, with Jake Allen expected to play instead.
- Hellebuyck made 23 saves in New Jersey’s 4-0 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday for his first shutout since joining the Devils.
- Devils coach Sheldon Keefe said Hellebuyck’s Toronto start was his third in six nights and cited the plan for him to start both games against the Washington Capitals later in the week.
- Hellebuyck played 11 seasons for Winnipeg, winning the Vezina Trophy three times and the Hart Trophy once.
- The 33-year-old requested a trade from the Jets before the season despite having five years left on the seven-year, $59.5 million contract he signed on Oct. 9, 2023.
- Hellebuyck was suspended by Winnipeg on Sept. 16 for failing to report to training camp before being traded when that suspension was due to end.
- Hellebuyck is 5-0-0 with a 1.96 goals-against average and a.913 save percentage for New Jersey.
IHM Discussion
The Devils have made a clear distinction between the significance of Hellebuyck’s return and the demands of their wider week. Hellebuyck wanted to play in Winnipeg and said he had told the team so, but Mehta and Keefe treated the game as part of a schedule rather than as a standalone occasion.
Mehta said the club believed starting Hellebuyck could reduce its expected chance of winning. Keefe’s explanation was more practical: Hellebuyck is still getting into the rhythm of the season after missing training camp and pre-season games, has been with New Jersey for less than two weeks, and has already carried a compact run of starts. The Capitals games on Thursday and Saturday are part of the calculation.
That does not remove the personal weight from Tuesday. Hellebuyck acknowledged that there is a “sour taste” in Winnipeg after his departure, but spoke warmly of the city, the community and his years with the Jets. His appearance before the media after the morning skate will give him a chance to address, in his own terms, why he sought the trade.
Why It Matters
Goaltending decisions often invite debate because a starter’s preference is only one element in a club’s calculation. Here, the Devils have prioritised the sequence of games, the workload already on Hellebuyck’s shoulders and the starts they have planned against Washington.
It also means Hellebuyck’s first return to Winnipeg will be defined less by a 60-minute performance and more by the conversation surrounding his exit. His record and awards make him one of the most important players in modern Jets history, while the circumstances of his departure ensure that the reaction in the building remains a central part of the night.
Fan Pulse
Jets supporters will have a chance to hear directly from Hellebuyck even without seeing him start. He has recognised the negative feeling around his departure, but has also stressed his affection for Winnipeg and the relationships he built there. The response to his media availability may shape the tone around an emotional return more than any save he might have made.
Mini Q&A
Why is Connor Hellebuyck not starting against Winnipeg?
The Devils cited his workload, with Sunday marking his third start in six nights, and their intention to start him in both upcoming games against Washington.
Did Hellebuyck want to play in Winnipeg?
Yes. Hellebuyck said he was adamant about wanting to play against his former team but understands the Devils’ decision.
Will Hellebuyck address his departure from the Jets?
He is expected to speak after Tuesday’s morning skate and has said he intends to explain his trade request in as much detail as he feels is necessary.
Coach Mark Comment
There is something revealing in the way this decision separates the game from the player’s history. Hellebuyck wanted the Winnipeg start, and nobody needs to pretend that the return means little to him. But his Sunday shutout was already the third start in six nights, and the Devils have two Capitals games immediately afterwards.
A goaltender can carry the emotion of a building without having to carry its game as well. Allen gets the assignment, Hellebuyck still meets the Winnipeg media, and New Jersey avoid asking one moment to outweigh the rest of a demanding week. That is a hard answer for a competitor to hear, but it is a sensible one when the schedule is laid out plainly.
What Comes Next
Hellebuyck is expected to hold a media availability after Tuesday’s morning skate at Canada Life Centre, where he has said he plans to discuss his reasons for requesting a trade from Winnipeg. The Devils then host Washington on Thursday before playing the Capitals in Washington on Saturday, with Keefe saying Hellebuyck is planned to start both games.
IHM Final View
This is not the return Hellebuyck wanted, but it is not an attempt by New Jersey to minimise what Winnipeg means to him. The Devils have made a firm goaltending decision while still allowing their new starter to speak in the city where he spent 11 seasons. Tuesday will carry plenty of feeling; Hellebuyck simply will not be asked to turn that feeling into a start.