Connor Hellebuyck is in Winnipeg tonight, but the New Jersey Devils are benching him, absolutely gutting what was set to be the NHL’s most villainous homecoming this season. Can you believe it? The Devils aren’t even giving fans the chance to give it to their former star goalie.
Hellebuyck’s Bitter Split With The Jets Blew Up The League
Let’s rewind, because this whole situation has been a powder keg. Hellebuyck wasn’t just *a* player for the Jets, he was their legend: a three-time Vezina Trophy winner, the 2024-25 Hart Trophy winner, and the primary goalie for gold medal-winning Team USA in the Winter Olympics. But his relationship with the Jets went completely sideways. He publicly demanded a trade over the summer, straight up staying away from the club until he got his wish. Dude is in the third year of a massive seven-year contract extension, worth $8.5 million average annual value, and he tried to spin it as being about family, not money. He even preferred Florida, but no deal got done there. This wasn’t just some quiet trade request; this was a loud, messy divorce that had the whole league watching.
The Trade That Sent Hellebuyck To New Jersey
The Jets finally caved on October 23rd. That was a key date, too, because it was the day Hellebuyck’s suspension from Winnipeg was set to end, and he was expected to report. Instead, he waived his no-movement clause and was shipped off to New Jersey in exchange for Dawson Mercer, Alexander Command, Nick Bjugstad, goalie Nico Daws, a 2029 second-round pick, and a 2027 seventh-round pick. It made him the latest prominent American NHL player to force his way out of a Canadian club, following in the footsteps of guys like Brady Tkachuk and Quinn Hughes. Make no mistake, Winnipeg wanted nothing to do with him anymore, and the feeling was clearly mutual.
Winnipeg Wanted Blood, But The Devils Said “Nah”
Hellebuyck is absolutely reviled in Winnipeg now, so you can imagine the tension building for his return. Jets fans were ready for an absolute bloodbath, a chance to really let him have it, and the Devils just completely pulled the rug out from under them. New Jersey GM Sunny Mehta made the decision to let Hellebuyck rest tonight, and the team is getting absolutely ripped for it. This wasn’t Hellebuyck’s call, by the way; he didn’t decide to sit out. It was the Devils’ choice, and honestly, the decision to bench him might just make this whole situation even more dramatic, fueling the outrage.
So tonight, Tuesday, at 7 ET, streaming on ESPN+, the Jets will still hit the ice, but without their former star across from them. DraftKings has Winnipeg at +125, with 86% of the money and nearly half the tickets leaning their way. There’s also a decent lean toward the Under 6.5. Even without Hellebuyck in goal, you can bet your last dollar that Jets fans are going to be absolutely buzzing. The atmosphere will be electric, and the game itself just got a whole new layer of drama, whether New Jersey likes it or not.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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