New Jersey Devils star goalie Connor Hellebuyck will not be in the starter’s crease for Tuesday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets when he makes his return to the city he spent the first 11 years of NHL career.
Following a 4-0 shutout win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday, Devils general manager Sunny Mehta released a statement announcing Hellebuyck would not get the start against Winnipeg, citing a “reduction in our expected win probability.”
Mehta also made it clear Hellebuyck wanted to play in the game.
“This has been an organizational decision for us that we’ve debated at length. Connor Hellebuyck was adamant that he felt a duty to play on Tuesday in Winnipeg,” said Mehta. “However, in our estimation, playing in this game would potentially give us a reduction in our expected win probability. Even though Connor isn’t playing, at his request, we will coordinate a media availability after Tuesday’s morning skate at Canada Life Centre.”
Following the shutout win over the Leafs, Hellebuyck said he was disappointed he won’t be able to “face the music” in Winnipeg, saying it is “out of my hands.”
The Devils and Hellebuyck will have a media availability following the morning skate on Tuesday when the 33-year-old American will address why he requested a trade out of Winnipeg this off-season.
Hellebuyck is 5-0 for the Devils after being acquired from the Jets on Oct. 23, posting a 1.96 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage.
Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe cited workload for the reason why Hellebuyck isn’t playing Tuesday.
“From our perspective, when you zoom out, this is a goaltender that is not going to play every single game of the season. You’re always looking for times to give him a night off,” explained Keefe.
Hellebuyck, who lead the United States to Olympic gold last winter at Milano Cortina 2026, told the Jets he wanted out of Winnipeg at the end of last season despite having five seasons remaining on the seven-year, $59.1 million contract he signed in October of 2023.
He was suspended by the organization in September for failing to show up for training camp.
Selected by the Jets in the fifth round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, he spent the first 11 seasons of his career in Winnipeg
Over 625 regular-season games in Winnipeg, Hellebuyck had a 345-208-55 record alongside a 2.58 goals-against average and .916 save percentage with 45 shutouts.
Hellebuyck won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goalie in 2020, 2024 and 2025 as well as the Hart Memorial Trophy in 2025.