Connor Hellebuyck is giving a bit of insight in his decision to request a trade from the Winnipeg Jets.
Returning to Winnipeg for the first time since being traded on Oct. 23, the New Jersey Devils goaltender said incidents with his family played a significant role in his decision.
"There's no one singular moment that wasn't important in all of this decision making, and this is over a span of time," Hellebuyck told reporters in Winnipeg on Tuesday. "I will say, with all the uncertainty, there was, you know, some moments and some things that happened to my family that, for me, crossed the line. As a husband and a father, I felt (the incidents) made that decision very certain."
Though Hellebuyck didn't specify what happened to his family, he said "it was more than online death threats."
Hellebuyck was dealt from the Jets to conclude a long saga that saw the goalie suspended by his team after failing to report for training camp.
The 33-year-old has three Vezina Trophies and a Hart Trophy as league MVP under his belt, all won as a member of the Jets. He backstopped the United States to Olympic gold — their first in four decades — at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
When asked if that Olympic gold, which was earned against Canada, played a role in his decision to request a trade out of a Canadian market, he ceded that there are difficulties present as an American playing north of the border.
"I'd be lying to you if I said that my life hasn't changed since the Olympics," Hellebuyck added. "Is there some difficulties with being American playing in Canada? Definitely. But there's a lot of positives.
"I've started my family here and grew up here. I've made a lot of connections here. I don't want anyone to think I don't love it here."
Devils No. 2 goalie Jake Allen will get the start in Winnipeg as Hellebuyck will serve as back-up against his former team.
Devils GM Sunny Mehta said in a statement Sunday the decision was being made because of a potential "reduction in our expected win probability."
Hellebuyck said he told the team he wanted to start, but respected the Devils' decision.
