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Connor Hellebuyck posts open letter 'to the great Jets fans'

Read the original at CBC News ↗
Cite

Bernhardt, D. (2026, November 4). Connor Hellebuyck posts open letter 'to the great Jets fans'. CBC News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/connor-hellebuyck-letter-to-jets-fans-9.7409144?cmp=rss

Dated from the outlet's own feed. Check the original for its byline.

CBC News · collected 2026-11-04 · by Darren Bernhardt

Quick Summary

Connor Hellebuyck, a 33-year-old goaltender who spent his first 11 seasons with the Winnipeg Jets before requesting a trade last off-season, posted an open letter to Jets fans expressing gratitude and explaining his decision. The letter addresses the difficult circumstances involving his family as one of the reasons for his request but does not provide specific details due to privacy concerns. Hellebuyck acknowledges the disappointment among fans and expresses hope for the best future for the team while maintaining appreciation for his time in Winnipeg, including personal connections formed there and outdoor activities enjoyed during off-ice moments.
Written by AI on 2026-11-05, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

Connor Hellebuyck, former goaltender of the Winnipeg Jets, posted an open letter on Instagram explaining his decision to request a trade, citing "very challenging circumstances involving my family" as one of the reasons. Despite tensions between him and the franchise following his trade demand last off-season, which led to his suspension for failing to report to training camp, Hellebuyck expressed gratitude towards Mark Chipman, Kevin Cheveldayoff, and the entire Jets organization. The trade, finalized on October 23, sent Hellebuyck to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for forwards Dawson Mercer, Alexander Command, Nick Bjugstad, goaltender Nico Daws, a 2027 seventh-round pick, and a 2029 second-round pick. Jets fans have been divided, with some expressing disappointment while others remain supportive of Hellebuyck's decision to prioritize his family's needs.

Written for “Connor Hellebuyck's Open Letter To Fans” on 2026-11-05, grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political question, so it has no leaning score. That is an answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political position.
No political leaning scored for article 130289 · logged 2026-11-05

Story

📰 Connor Hellebuyck's Open Letter To Fans
Sports · 2 article(s) covering the same event. See how they differ ↓

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 0% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.
Global News
Hedges 0 of 19 claims Outlet record 63/100
How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted
21
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
0%
0 of 21 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
71/100
CBC News's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
2
Sports
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
Analyzed 2026-11-05 · how these are computed

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability
Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

CBC News · 1901 article(s) · 6 correction(s) detected
Running correction rate · 6 correction(s)

Who wrote this

Darren Bernhardt
7 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction
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2026-09-17 · assertive framing · Manitoba adopts permanent daylight time
Also by Darren Bernhardt
Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.
All 7 articles by Darren Bernhardt →

Topics

Canada Jets Manitoba Winnipeg Winnipeg Jets

Subjects

Hellebuyck PERSON · 5× Jets ORG · 5× Winnipeg ORG · 4× Canada GPE · 3× Connor Hellebuyck PERSON · 3× Manitoba GPE · 2× Devils ORG · 1× Michigan GPE · 1× Winnipeg Jets ORG · 1× the New Jersey Devils ORG · 1×

Narrative

Not only did his team beat Canada with him in net, he and several teammates visited the White House, where U.S. President Donald Trump gave Hellebuyck the Presidential Medal of Freedom, while anti-American sentiment was soaring in Canada due to tariffs and Trump's references to making Canada the 51st state.
framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-11-05
🔮 Some of my favourite memories away from the rink will always be the time I spent on the water fishing.
2026-11-05 · CBC News
Connor Hellebuyck posts open letter 'to the great Jets fans' · assertive framing

Claims (21 extracted, 0 hedged)

Connor Hellebuyck posts open letter 'to the great Jets fans' asserted
Hellebuyck → post → fans
Several factors went into trade request, including 'very challenging circumstances involving my family' Connor Hellebuyck has posted a letter to Winnipeg Jets fans on his social media page, expressing gratitude to them, the organization and Manitoba's lakes. " asserted
Hellebuyck → go → them
I know my decision to request a trade was disappointing and frustrating for many people, especially those who supported me throughout my career. asserted
who → know → career
I understand those feelings, and I want everyone to know it was an extremely difficult decision," the letter says. asserted
letter → understand → feelings
"I'll never forget the pride I felt representing Winnipeg, and I wish the Jets and the entire community nothing but the best." asserted
I → forget → best
The 33-year-old from Michigan spent his first 11 seasons in a Jets uniform before requesting a trade this past off-season and eventually being shipped to the New Jersey Devils. asserted
old → spend → Devils
His request left a bad taste in the mouths of many fans who took to social media to express anger and say good riddance. asserted
who → leave → riddance
There have been heated discussions online about the best Bronx cheers to offer Hellebuyck when he returns to Winnipeg with the Devils for a game on Nov. 10. asserted
he → offer → Nov.
Jets fans are famous for having some of the loudest, wittiest, and most creative roasts. asserted
fans → have → roasts
Connor Hellebuyck posted this open letter to the Winnipeg Jets and the team's fans on social media Wednesday. asserted
Hellebuyck → post → media
"When I think about my years in Winnipeg, I'll always be grateful for the life my family and I built there and for the people who became such an important part of it. asserted
who → think → it
It's where I grew as a player and where we started our family," Hellebuyck's post says. asserted
post → grow → family
"One of the things I've always loved about Manitoba is the connection people have to the outdoors. asserted
people → love → outdoors
With so many beautiful lakes and places to enjoy nature, it's a special part of life there. asserted
it → enjoy → life
Some of my favourite memories away from the rink will always be the time I spent on the water fishing. asserted
I → spend → fishing
" There were several things that went into the decision to ask for the trade, "including some very challenging circumstances involving my family." asserted
that → be → family
The family has chosen to keep those private, he wrote. asserted
he → choose → those
Not only did his team beat Canada with him in net, he and several teammates visited the White House, where U.S. President Donald Trump gave Hellebuyck the Presidential Medal of Freedom, while anti-American sentiment was soaring in Canada due to tariffs and Trump's references to making Canada the 51st state. asserted
Canada → beat → tariffs
Cheveldayoff told reporters in September that the harassment had escalated to the point where team security and local police were involved, with increased monitoring around Hellebuyck's Winnipeg residence. asserted
security → tell → residence
In his post, Hellebuyck thanked the Jets organization for the opportunity to play and the trust shown in him. asserted
Hellebuyck → thank → him
He also thanked his former teammates, coaches, trainers, equipment staff and "everyone behind the scenes." asserted
He → thank → scenes
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