When you’re a Jet, you’re a Jet all the way, unless you’re Connor Hellebuyck.
asserted
you → ’re → ?
The netminder, Hart Trophy and three-time Vezina Trophy winner and Olympic gold medal winner was back in Winnipeg on Tuesday as his New Jersey Devils were set to take on his former Jets for the first time since his trade on Oct. 23.
asserted
Devils → set → Oct.
Hellebuyck was out on the ice for pre-game warmups at Canada Life Centre and was loudly booed by the crowd amid chants of “Helle sucks!” shortly before the puck dropped.
asserted
puck → boo → chants
Speaking to reporters after the Devils conducted their morning skate, the goaltender said he wasn’t set to be between the pipes against his former team, a decision made by Devils management that he says he doesn’t agree with, but respects.
asserted
he → speak → management
“I’m 14 days into a new team, and they handle their business differently than I’m used to,” Hellebuyck told reporters.
asserted
Hellebuyck → ’m → reporters
“When I went in there and said my piece and said I felt it was my duty to play this game and said ‘I want to play,’ I had a good conversation with the (coach Sheldon Keefe) and (general manager Sunny Mehta), and I left that conversation understanding where they’re at.”
asserted
they → go → where
Death threats against Hellebuyck, family
Hellebuyck said death threats against him and his family were a major factor — though not the only one — in his decision to ask for a trade out of Winnipeg.
asserted
threats → say → Winnipeg
As for the other reasons, Hellebuyck wouldn’t specify, though he mentioned there was “some uncertainty” during his time in Winnipeg.
asserted
he → specify → Winnipeg
“Some things happened to my family that, for me, crossed the line … and made that decision very certain,” Hellebuyck told reporters Tuesday, adding his role as a husband and father prompted the decision for “a change in scenery,” and that had he remained in Winnipeg, his family wouldn’t be with him.
“I have two young kids and I want to be present as much as I can be,” he said.
asserted
he → happen → kids
Olympic win prompted hate
asserted
win → prompt → hate
He stopped 41 out of 42 shots in a 2-1 overtime victory against the Canadians, securing the United States’ first gold medal in men’s hockey since its win over the Soviet Union in 1980.
asserted
He → stop → 1980
Shortly after the win, Hellebuyck and his American teammates visited the White House, where U.S. President Donald Trump gave him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
asserted
Trump → visit → Freedom
For some Canadians, the award was a kick in the teeth while the nation was already down — especially considering the level of anti-American sentiment due to trade tensions and Trump’s rhetoric about making Canada the 51st state.
asserted
Canada → consider → tensions
The Jets had previously said Hellebuyck got so much hate that team security and police were monitoring his Winnipeg home and the area around it.
“I’ve loved my time here, but there are a few moments that I don’t want to see happen again,” Hellebuyck said Tuesday.
asserted
Hellebuyck → say → that
“There is more that made me and my family uncomfortable.
asserted
me → be → ?
I’m, please, going to ask you to respect my family’s privacy.”
asserted
I → go → privacy
But Hellebuyck doesn’t want Winnipeggers to believe there are hard feelings, speaking to the years he spent in that city and the connections he built there.
asserted
he → want → city
“I’ve had all my career accomplishments here and I don’t want any of this to change any of that.
asserted
any → have → that
I’m not going to project a few moments on the entire city,” he said.
asserted
he → go → city
“I started my family here.
asserted
I → start → family
I grew up here and I’ve made a lot of connections here.
asserted
I → grow → connections
I don’t want anyone to think I don’t love it here.”
asserted
I → want → it
Jets tell a different story
asserted
Jets → tell → story
Hellebuyck requested a trade two years into a $59.5-million, seven-year contract extension, saying when he did so, “I’m ready to be a Jet for life and bring a Cup to this city, because I truly believe we can get it done here.”
Reportedly disgruntled, Hellebuyck publicly requested a trade on Aug. 27, before training camp started in fall.
uncertain
camp → request → fall
When the team didn’t co-operate, Hellebuyck didn’t show up to camp.
asserted
Hellebuyck → co → camp
The Jets then suspended him.
asserted
Jets → suspend → him
The day his suspension was set to end, Hellebuyck was traded to New Jersey for forwards Dawson Mercer and Nick Bjugstad, goaltender Nico Daws, a second-round draft pick in both 2027 and 2029, and the rights to 12th overall draft pick Alexander Command.
asserted
Hellebuyck → set → Command
Jets coach Scott Arniel didn’t mince words about his former goaltender, saying he quit on his team.
asserted
he → mince → team
“To me, it goes back to the ownership, it goes back to the fans, it goes back to the core guys that have been with Helly from the very beginning that, you know, he kind of left on,” Arniel told reporters Thursday.
asserted
Arniel → go → reporters
“That’s the part for me that’s hard.
asserted
that → ’ → me
He just gave up on us and so it would be nice to just finally be done with this.”
asserted
it → give → this
The Aporia
