Connor Hellebuyck‘s 11-season run in Winnipeg ended on Oct. 23, when the Jets traded the three-time Vezina Trophy winner to the New Jersey Devils for Dawson Mercer, Nick Bjugstad, Nico Daws, the rights to Alexander Command, a 2029 second-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick.
The deal closed on the day his unpaid suspension, which began Sept. 16 after he skipped training camp, was due to expire. Four days later he was in net in Dallas, stopping 17 of 18 shots in a 5-1 win over the Stars. It was his first NHL game since April 13.
Connor Hellebuyck’s first return to Winnipeg since his demand to be traded from the Jets is set for November 10, when the Devils visit the Jets at the Canada Life Centre. Tickets on Ticketmaster started at $171, with the top listing at $1,183, per Radio-Canada.
After leading the Devils to a 4-3 shootout win against Connor McDavid and the Oilers, Connor Hellebuyck addressed his expected return to Winnipeg next week.
“The majority of my best memories are there. I look forward to going back and seeing the place, how they react,” he said. “But I do look forward … I had a great time there,” said Hellebuyck to ESPN.
CBC News had reported that his trade request followed online harassment of Hellebuyck and his family after he won Olympic gold with Team USA in Milan and visited the White House. Cheveldayoff said in September that the harassment had escalated to the point that team security and local police were involved, with extra monitoring around Hellebuyck’s Winnipeg residence.
Jets were relieved after Connor Hellebuyck trade saga ended
Before the deal, players in the Winnipeg Jets locker room were not exactly preparing a welcome-back party for a goalie whose suspension was about to expire. Captain Adam Lowry said that if Hellebuyck rejoined the team, “conversations are going to have to happen.”
Once it was done, Lowry was relieved.
“It was a bit of a cloud hanging over our heads. It’s nice we can look forward now. We don’t have to keep talking about it. We’ve got guys that want to be here,” said Lowry.
Mark Scheifele shared the same sentiment as his captain, but gave Connor Hellebuyck his flowers.
“… just not having to answer questions and being able to move on with the team we have moving forward is good for clarity… He’s one of the best goalies in the world. Three Vezinas, Hart Trophy, a goalie that got us to some places, memories I’ll remember forever.”
Edited by Srihari Anand
