When the New Jersey Devils traded for Connor Hellebuyck last month, many circled November 10 on their calendars. This was the day that Hellebuyck would return to face the Winnipeg Jets for the first time as a visitor. At least, that's what many believed.
On Sunday night, the Devils confirmed on social media that Hellebuyck would not play in this upcoming clash against Winnipeg. New Jersey released a statement explaining the decision, referring to internal estimates.
“This has been an organizational decision for us that we've debated at length. Connor Hellebuyck was adamant that he felt a duty to play on Tuesday in Winnipeg. However, in our estimation, (Hellebuyck) playing in this game would potentially give us a reduction in our expected win probability. Even though Connor isn't playing, at his request, we will coordinate a media availability after Tuesday's morning skate at Canada Life Centre,” general manager Sunny Mehta said in a statement.
The former Hart Trophy winner has had a solid enough start to his time in New Jersey. The Michigan native has won all four of his starts with the Devils. He hasn't exactly been as sharp as many expected, given his .891 save percentage. But New Jersey is winning games with him in net.
Article Continues BelowHellebuyck was traded to the Devils last month after a public trade request. The former Jets star demanded a trade from Winnipeg after spending his entire career with the franchise. He made this request public in August, before training camp began in September.
The Devils and Jets are still playing a game on Tuesday. However, Hellebuyck will have to watch from the sidelines. It will certainly be interesting to see how he approaches this matter on Tuesday morning when he speaks to the media.