Sports · Other Sports · 4 hrs ago
Hellebuyck says threats against his family led him to seek a trade
Connor Hellebuyck says threats against his family helped drive his move from the Winnipeg Jets to the New Jersey Devils.
The 33-year-old goalie said some incidents went beyond online death threats and made his family uncomfortable, but he asked for their privacy and gave no further details.
He sought a change of scenery amid those concerns and uncertainty about his career.
Hellebuyck had signed a seven-year, $60 million deal with Winnipeg in 2023 and said then that he wanted to be a Jet for life.
He says he meant it, but did not expect how events would unfold during the contract.
Some Jets fans have criticized his departure, while Hellebuyck says he understands people may think he handled it poorly.
He was left out of Tuesday's game in Winnipeg after Devils coach Sheldon Keefe chose to rest him for a home-and-home series against Washington; Hellebuyck said he had wanted to play against his former team.
New Jersey Devils goaltender Connor Hellebuyck said threats and other incidents involving his family while he was with the Winnipeg Jets contributed to his decision to seek a trade.
He said some incidents crossed a line and asked for privacy, without giving further details.
Hellebuyck also cited uncertainty about his career and said he believed a change of scenery was best.
He discussed his departure on Tuesday in Winnipeg, where he was scratched for the Devils’ game against the Jets.
Some Jets fans criticized his contract talks and trade demand, while Hellebuyck said he meant it when he once said he wanted to be a Jet for life.
- Who
- Connor Hellebuyck, goaltender for the New Jersey Devils.
- What
- He said threats and other incidents involving his family while he was with the Winnipeg Jets contributed to his trade request.
- When
- He spoke to reporters on Tuesday; the article was published on November 10, 2026.
- Where
- Winnipeg, Canada.
- Why
- He said incidents involving his family crossed a line and that uncertainty about his career made a change of scenery seem best.
Connor Hellebuyck
Critical Winnipeg Jets fans
Departure from Winnipeg
Connor Hellebuyck
Hellebuyck said he meant it when he said he wanted to be a Jet for life, but did not foresee what would happen later.
Critical Winnipeg Jets fans
The article says some Jets fans viewed him as a traitor and criticized his contract talks and trade demand.
Hellebuyck signed a seven-year, $60 million deal with Winnipeg and said he wanted to finish his career with the team.
Hellebuyck pushed for a trade from the Jets.
It was announced that Hellebuyck would be scratched for Tuesday's game in Winnipeg.
Hellebuyck spoke to reporters in Winnipeg about the threats and his departure from the Jets.
- Player
- Connor Hellebuyck
- Current team
- New Jersey Devils
- Former team
- Winnipeg Jets
- Contract signed
- Seven years, $60 million, in 2023
- Record with New Jersey
- 5-0 at the time of publication
4 sources
US Olympic hockey hero Connor Hellebuyck reveals death threats from fans in Canada led to his trade request: 'Crossed the line'
Jets fans give Hellebuyck chilly reception in return to Winnipeg
What people are saying
There was some moments and some things that happened to my family that for me crossed the line
It's more than just online death threats and I'm gonna ask you to respect my privacy and my family's privacy, I won't go deeper than that, but there's more that made me and my family uncomfortable.
And the day that I said I was a Jet for life, I meant it, but I also didn't foresee the future that was going to happen
Posts on X
Connor Hellebuyck steps out onto the ice at @CanadaLifeCtr for the #NJDevils. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard a worse noise in my life. Fans immediate start cheering “Helle sucks!”
Not exactly a warm welcome back for former #NHLJets G Connor Hellebuyck:
Puck drop here at Canada Life Centre and a very loud "WE WANT CONNOR, WE WANT CONNOR" chant is raining down.