Hellebuyck cites family in letter to Jets fans

New Jersey Devils goaltender Connor Hellebuyck said Wednesday that “some very challenging circumstances involving my family” were among the reasons he asked the Winnipeg Jets for a trade, in a letter to Jets fans posted to his Instagram account.

The 33-year-old’s request led to a training-camp holdout, a suspension and an Oct. 23 trade to the Devils, and until now he had said little publicly about why he wanted out.

“I know my decision to request a trade was disappointing and frustrating for many people, especially those who supported me throughout my career,” Hellebuyck wrote. “I understand those feelings, and I want everyone to know it was an extremely difficult decision.”

He did not say what the circumstances were. “We’ve chosen to keep those personal circumstances private, and I hope people can respect that,” he wrote, adding that after “a lot of thought and discussion,” he and his family felt a change was the best thing for them.

The letter thanks Jets owner Mark Chipman, general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and the organization for the trust they showed him. He also thanked teammates, coaches, trainers and equipment staff, and the fans who supported him and his family. “I’ll never forget the pride I felt representing Winnipeg,” he wrote.

Hellebuyck also wrote about life in Manitoba, saying it is where he grew as a player and where he and his wife started their family. He described the province’s lakes and the time he spent fishing as some of his favourite memories away from the rink.

The letter comes ahead of his return to Winnipeg as a member of the Devils, TSN reported. As we reported on Oct. 23, the Jets suspended him for the first three weeks of the season and traded him on the day the suspension was set to end.

In that trade with New Jersey, Winnipeg received prospect Alexander Command, who was drafted 12th overall in June, forwards Dawson Mercer and Nick Bjugstad, goaltender Nico Daws, a 2027 seventh-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick, TSN reported.

Hellebuyck has started the season 3-0 with the Devils, with a .900 save percentage and a 1.95 goals-against average. He won the Hart, Vezina and William M. Jennings trophies in 2024-25, then had the weakest season of his career in 2025-26, with a .895 save percentage and a 2.86 goals-against average. He also started five games for Team USA at the Olympics, where the Americans won gold.

His contract, signed in October 2023, carries an annual cap hit of $8.5 million through the 2030-31 season. He forfeited more than $750,000 while suspended by the Jets, TSN reported.

Hellebuyck had said earlier that he could handle criticism but was upset that his wife bore the brunt of it, Reuters reported in March. The letter does not say whether that is related to the circumstances he described.

File photo: Hellebuyck makes a save against the St. Louis Blues in Winnipeg on April 21, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Greenslade

Sources: TSN, Reuters via KFGO.

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