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.
asserted
that → reveal → 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.”
asserted
I → trade → that
“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.
asserted
Devils → be → Tuesday
“I needed to be a good husband and a good father and do what’s best for my family and my career.”
asserted
what → need → family
Hellebuyck became an American sports hero when he helped the U.S. win gold in men’s hockey at the Olympics in February.
asserted
U.S. → become → 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.
asserted
he → draw → Freedom
The All-Star goalie acknowledged that it might have put a target on his back.
uncertain
it → acknowledge → back
“I’m sure it did a little bit.
asserted
it → ’m → bit
I don’t think it matters if it’s fair or not,” he said.
asserted
he → think → ?
“Those are accomplishments that I will never apologize for, and I will never speak negatively about.
asserted
I → apologize → that
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.
asserted
I → know → anyone
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.
asserted
it → make → 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.
asserted
he → report → 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.
asserted
decision → say → own
“I know from the outside looking in, you can say, ‘Oh, you did this wrong, you did that wrong,’ and maybe we did.
asserted
we → know → that
We’re human,” he said.
asserted
he → ’re → ?
“We might make mistakes along the way.
uncertain
We → make → 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.
asserted
we → handle → it
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.
asserted
he → try → 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.
asserted
Hellebuyck → feel → that
“The day I said I was a Jet for life, I meant it.
asserted
I → say → it
But I also didn’t foresee the future that was going to happen.
asserted
that → foresee → future
Like I said, it’s a complex decision.
asserted
it → say → ?
It’s a crazy road on how we’re here today.”
asserted
we → ’ → ?
Jets fans did not appear to be in the mood to forgive Hellebuyck on Tuesday.
asserted
fans → appear → Tuesday
Hellebuyck was booed when he took the ice at Canada Life Centre and then greeted with chants of “Helle Sucks!”
asserted
Helle → boo → chants
Fans also chanted “coward” at him during warmups and images of signs that circulated online included one that read, “Softer than Charmin.”
asserted
that → chant → Charmin
Jets head coach Scott Arniel said on Monday that Hellebuyck “gave up on us.”
asserted
Hellebuyck → say → us
“I understand there’s a lot of emotions going on right now,” Hellebuyck said.
asserted
Hellebuyck → understand → emotions
“I feel them myself just stepping foot back in the city.
asserted
I → feel → city
I’m thinking about all the good memories I’ve had, you know, all the relationships I’ve built over the years.
asserted
I → think → years
And there’s a strong emotional connection I have here.
asserted
I → ’ → ?
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.”
asserted
you → go → anyone
He added: “I kind of look forward to seeing what this crowd’s reaction is.
asserted
reaction → add → ?
I know how awesome they are and I know how much they cherish their team.
asserted
they → know → team
However they want to bring their energy to the game I embrace it.
asserted
I → want → it
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