See more of our coverage in your search results.
Connor Hellebuyck revealed that it was ultimately “more than online death threats” that resulted in his decision to ask the Winnipeg Jets for a trade.
The Devils goaltender, who was traded to the Garden State to end a standoff with the Jets on Oct. 23, didn’t go into detail about the threats that he says he and his family faced, but described it as “a few moments that I don’t want to see happen again.”
“There was some moments and some things that happened to my family that, for me, crossed the line and as a husband and a father, I felt made that decision very certain,” Hellebuyck told reporters before the Devils faced the Jets in Winnipeg on Tuesday. “I needed to be a good husband and a good father and do what’s best for my family and my career.”
“There was some moments and some things that happened to my family that for me crossed the line…I needed to be a good husband and good father, and do what’s best for my family and my career.”
Connor Hellebuyck on his decision to request a trade out of Winnipeg.…
— Spittin’ Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) November 10, 2026
Hellebuyck became an American sports hero when he helped the U.S. win gold in men’s hockey at the Olympics in February. He drew criticism in Canada after attending a reception at the White House honoring the men’s hockey team in which President Donald Trump revealed he would be given the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The All-Star goalie acknowledged that it might have put a target on his back.
“I’m sure it did a little bit. I don’t think it matters if it’s fair or not,” he said. “Those are accomplishments that I will never apologize for, and I will never speak negatively about. I know the sensitivity about what’s going on between the U.S. and Canada, and I’ve never gotten into politics deep with anyone because I’m a hockey player.”
His trade request had at first been made privately to the Jets before it was made public by Hellebuyck’s camp and kickstarted a standoff between the two sides. Hellebuyck did not report to training camp and was suspended — missing three weeks of the season – before he was finally dealt to the Devils.
Hellebuyck did say he believed the Jets would have assisted his family amid the security concerns, but cited his family as being “private” as the reason why the decision was made to handle everything on his own.
“I know from the outside looking in, you can say, ‘Oh, you did this wrong, you did that wrong,’ and maybe we did. We’re human,” he said. “We might make mistakes along the way. The way that we handled it is the way that we wanted to handle it and how we’re going to continue to handle it. With privacy.”
The Devils goaltender did try to convey during the roughly 22-minute press conference that he “loved” his time in Winnipeg, where he spent the first 11 years of his NHL career and had said that he wanted to be a “Jet for life” when he signed a contract extension in 2023.
“To the people that feel I’ve been disloyal, well, there was also a lot that I was expecting not to happen,” Hellebuyck said. “The day I said I was a Jet for life, I meant it. But I also didn’t foresee the future that was going to happen. Like I said, it’s a complex decision. It’s a crazy road on how we’re here today.”
Jets fans did not appear to be in the mood to forgive Hellebuyck on Tuesday.
Hellebuyck was booed when he took the ice at Canada Life Centre and then greeted with chants of “Helle Sucks!”
Fans also chanted “coward” at him during warmups and images of signs that circulated online included one that read, “Softer than Charmin.”
Jets head coach Scott Arniel said on Monday that Hellebuyck “gave up on us.”
“I understand there’s a lot of emotions going on right now,” Hellebuyck said. “I feel them myself just stepping foot back in the city. I’m thinking about all the good memories I’ve had, you know, all the relationships I’ve built over the years. And there’s a strong emotional connection I have here. So I’m not going to tell anyone what’s right and what’s wrong on how you should feel and how you should act.”
He added: “I kind of look forward to seeing what this crowd’s reaction is. I’ve been on the other side of it. I know how awesome they are and I know how much they cherish their team. However they want to bring their energy to the game I embrace it.
