Hellebuyck won’t play in Winnipeg return as Devils start Allen

Connor Hellebuyck will not play for the New Jersey Devils when they visit the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night, his first trip back to Canada Life Centre since the Jets traded him on Oct. 23. The Devils are expected to start Jake Allen instead, NHL.com reported.

Devils general manager Sunny Mehta announced the decision in a statement on Sunday, after Hellebuyck made 23 saves in a 4-0 shutout of the Toronto Maple Leafs, his first shutout with New Jersey.

“This has been an organizational decision for us that we’ve debated at length,” Mehta said. “Connor Hellebuyck was adamant that he felt a duty to play on Tuesday in Winnipeg. However, in our estimation, playing in this game would potentially give us a reduction in our expected win probability.” Mehta said the team would arrange a media availability for Hellebuyck after Tuesday’s morning skate, at the goalie’s request.

Devils coach Sheldon Keefe pointed to workload. Sunday’s game was Hellebuyck’s third start in six nights, and he did not take part in training camp or the preseason. The Devils want him for both games of a home-and-home series against the Washington Capitals on Thursday and Saturday, and did not want him to start four games in eight nights.

“Tonight was his third game in six nights. He’s been at this for less than two weeks with us,” Keefe said Sunday, according to NHL.com. Hellebuyck is 5-0-0 with the Devils, with a 1.96 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage.

Hellebuyck said he was disappointed but understood. “I can only push so hard. I was adamant that I want to play, but it is what it is,” he said. “I know there’s a pretty sour taste in Winnipeg. I’ve heard that, but I can only speak to my memories and my cherished moments in the city.”

Jets head coach Scott Arniel said after Monday’s practice that he was disappointed. “I’ve seen a lot of analytics in my life. And since it’s really come into the forefront, I’m not sure how this works into the analytics part of it,” Arniel said, according to CBC News.

Hellebuyck spent 11 seasons with the Jets, winning the Vezina Trophy three times and the Hart Trophy once. He asked for a trade before this season with five years left on the seven-year, $59.5-million contract he signed in October 2023, was suspended on Sept. 16 for not reporting to training camp, and was traded to New Jersey on the day the suspension was due to end. Our earlier coverage: Hellebuyck cites family in letter to Jets fans and Hellebuyck earns first Devils shutout, 4-0 over Leafs.

Jets fans will get another chance at their old goalie later this month: Winnipeg visits New Jersey on Nov. 28.

Sources: NHL.com, CBC News, The Canadian Press.