Jets coach Scott Arniel isn’t mincing words, flat out telling everyone he’s disappointed New Jersey Devils star goalie Connor Hellebuyck won’t be playing against his old team Tuesday night in Winnipeg. This isn’t just a coach making a lineup decision, this is a whole saga that Arniel believes the Devils are just dragging out. He argues this move “only prolongs a difficult chapter” for the Jets after Hellebuyck’s very public trade request. Talk about adding fuel to the fire, right?
The “Analytics” That Have Everyone Scratching Their Heads
You gotta hand it to Arniel, he’s not holding back. “It’s their decision, and they can do whatever they want,” he said Monday after practice. But then he dropped the bomb: “I think that it would put closure to it. This doesn’t.” The Devils, for their part, said Sunday that Hellebuyck was benched purely on “analysis” that playing him would “reduce their probability of winning.” Wait, what? This is the same Connor Hellebuyck who’s won all five of his starts with New Jersey! So he’s perfect, but they sit him against his old team? Arniel echoed what a lot of us are thinking: “I’ve seen a lot of analytics in my life since it’s really come into the forefront. I’m not sure how this works into the analytics part of it.” Yeah, coach, we’re not sure either. It feels like a slap in the face to a guy who’s playing lights out, and to a fanbase that clearly wants to confront their former MVP.
An Unfinished Chapter and a Looming Showdown
Let’s not forget the history here. Hellebuyck was a cornerstone for the Jets for 11 seasons, bagging the Vezina Trophy three times and even taking home the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 2024-25. But come offseason, he wanted out. He straight up asked for a trade, refused to report to training camp, and got suspended without pay well into the season before finally being traded on October 23. Arniel pulls no punches about that messy exit: “I mean, he just gave up on us. And so it’ll be nice to just finally be done with this.” You can feel the frustration. Jets captain Adam Lowry was pretty surprised by the decision too, saying he “would have loved to play against him.” Lowry added, “We’d all be lying if we said we weren’t looking forward to the opportunity.” Even Hellebuyck himself, after a shutout in Toronto, said he wanted to play against his former team, but he understands the Devils’ decision. The 33-year-old American is scheduled to meet with reporters in Winnipeg on Tuesday, and he plans to explain his reasons for wanting out. That’s a must-listen, for sure.
So, while we won’t see Hellebuyck in net against the Jets tonight, the drama is far from over. The teams face off again on November 28 in New Jersey for their second and final meeting this season. You can bet Arniel expects more questions about Hellebuyck leading up to that one. Get ready, because it feels like this story is just getting started.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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