Connor Hellebuyck will have more to say to fans of his former team, the Winnipeg Jets, but for now he wants them to know he cares.
Hellebuyck was officially introduced by the New Jersey Devils on Saturday following Friday’s blockbuster trade, which saw the American star goalie leave the only NHL franchise he has ever known.
“There is a lot that I need to say, but they have their Heritage Classic game coming up, so as respect for them and the celebration of hockey, I’m gonna postpone that to a later date,” Hellebuyck said on Saturday. “I hope they know I care about them.”
The Jets will host the Montreal Canadiens outdoors at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg on Sunday in the Heritage Classic. Hellebuyck will make his Winnipeg return as a member of the Devils on Nov. 10.
Prospect Alexander Command, forwards Dawson Mercer and Nick Bjugstad, goaltender Nico Daws, a 2029 second-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick went back to Winnipeg in the deal.
The trade ends months of speculation about the netminder’s future after he initially expressed frustrations with the team’s direction in April and formally requested a trade over the summer. That turned into an unpaid suspension when Hellebuyck did not report to training camp last month.
It also comes on the same day Hellebuyck’s suspension was set to end. It was revealed last week that the netminder informed the Jets he planned to report ahead of their opening game and was then given a three-week disciplinary suspension for skipping camp.
The 6-foot-4 netminder is in the third season of a seven-year, $59.5 million contract that carries an annual cap hit of $8.5 million. He holds a full no-move clause as part of the contract through next July, when it will switch to a 10-team approved trade list.
Hellebuyck, 33, was selected by the Jets in the fifth round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, spending the first 11 seasons of his career in Manitoba’s capital.
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.