Devils Goalie Connor Hellebuyck Will Not Face His Former Jets Teammates Tuesday in Winnipeg
Management cited reduced win probability as the reason for the decision, despite Hellebuyck's request to play against his former team.
- The New Jersey Devils will not start goalie Connor Hellebuyck against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday at Canada Life Centre, despite the goaltender's adamant request to face his former team.
- Hellebuyck returns to Winnipeg following an 11-season tenure in Manitoba that ended when he demanded a trade, was suspended, and was ultimately shipped to the Devils in October.
- Devils General Manager Sunny Mehta called it an "organizational decision," stating that starting Hellebuyck "would potentially give us a reduction in our expected win probability." Coach Keefe cited workload management.
- Hellebuyck said he is "disappointed" he won't start, telling reporters "it's out of my hands." The team will coordinate a media availability after Tuesday morning's skate at Canada Life Centre.
- Hellebuyck, who carries a 1.96 goals-against-average, will face the Jets again on Nov. 28 in Newark, as the organization continues using analytics-based models to guide roster decisions.
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30 Articles
NEW YORK. First he secured his first clean sheet as a New Jersey goalie – in Toronto. Then Connor Hellebuyck was informed that the Devils would not allow him to play in the long-awaited return to Winnipeg on Tuesday. – I am disappointed that I will not get to “face the music” in my old hometown, says the 33-year-old American after the 4-0 victory against the Maple Leafs.
Goalie star Connor Hellebuyck has had a stellar start in New Jersey after the infected breakup from Winnipeg. When the Devils are now going to play in Winnipeg, they are already announcing that Hellebuyck is being "saved". "Totally ridiculous," writes ESPN profile John Buccigross on X.
"Playing [Connor Hellebuyck] would potentially give us a reduction in our expected win probability": Devils GM on forcing goalie to sit out vs former team
Connor Hellebuyck was traded to the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 23 after 11 seasons in Manitoba, and Jets fans had one date circled: Nov. 10, New Jersey's only visit to Canada Life Centre this season.
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