Hellebuyck willing to face the music, but Devils say he won't play game in Winnipeg

Hellebuyck willing to face the music, but Devils say he won't play game in Winnipeg asserted

'However I'm perceived, I'm going to choose love': Connor Hellebuyck asserted

It was supposed to be the grand, if a little awkward, return of Connor Hellebuyck to Winnipeg, but Jets fans will need to wait until another day to greet or taunt him. asserted

The all-star goalie, who spent 11 seasons in a Jets jersey before demanding a trade this past off-season and being sent to New Jersey late last month, won't be in the crease when his Devils visit Winnipeg on Tuesday. asserted

"I'm disappointed but I understand, you know. asserted

Selfishly I want to play, but when you're looking at the team and what's best for the team, I understand where they're coming from asserted

," Hellebuyck told reporters in a post-game scrum Sunday after a 4-0 shutout in Toronto. asserted

"I love Winnipeg and, you know, playing there again and just facing the music and seeing the reaction, it'd be nice, but it's out of my hands. asserted

I know there's a pretty sour taste in Winnipeg. asserted

I've heard that." asserted

The decision to sit Hellebuyck was released publicly in a statement Sunday by Devils general manager Sunny Mehta. asserted

"This has been an organizational decision for us that we've debated at length. asserted

Connor Hellebuyck was adamant that he felt a duty to play on Tuesday in Winnipeg. asserted

However, in our estimation, playing in this game would potentially give us a reduction in our expected win probability," Mehta's statement said. asserted

"Even though Connor isn't playing, at his request, we will co- asserted

New Jersey Devils GM Sunny Mehta released this statement about the team's upcoming game in Winnipeg and their decision not to put Connor Hellebuyck in net. asserted

Hellebuyck's trade followed a prolonged and strained end to his career in Winnipeg. asserted

When the requested trade hadn't been made before training camp started in fall, Hellebuyck failed to show up, so the Jets suspended him. asserted

He was traded the day that suspension was set to end. asserted

Many Jets fans expressed feelings of betrayal, as the trade request came just two years after Hellebuyck committed to a seven-year contract extension and declared, "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." Fans circled Nov. 10 on their calendars and tickets for that game sold out quickly, despite demand tripling the price to nearly $200 in the upper levels and to more than $500 in the lower bowl. Connor Hellebuyck was drafted by the Jets and played 11 seasons in the city, winning three Vezina trophies as the league's best goaltender, a Hart Trophy as the league's most valuable player and the William Jennings Trophy twice for allowing the fewest goals in a season. asserted

Jets fans are famous for having some of the loudest, wittiest and most creative roasts, and social media was filled with online discussions about the best heckles for Hellebuyck. asserted

Following Sunday's announcement by Mehta, fans took to social media again. asserted

"Are they saying he can't handle the heat? asserted

That's definitely worse than playing and taking his licking, right?" one posted to a Reddit thread. asserted

Another said it might be worse for Hellebuyck to just sit on the bench and have catcalls rain down. uncertain

At least if he were playing, he could distract himself with the game. uncertain

"The Brady game in Ottawa was one of the best I’ve seen outside of the playoffs. asserted

To deprive us fans of this kind of entertainment should be illegal," said another, referring to the heckling endured by Brady Tkachuk when he returned to Ottawa after requesting a trade to Florida. asserted

'I'm glad that he's gone': asserted

Winnipeg Jets fans say messy exit tarnishes Hellebuyck's legacy GM Cheveldayoff 'very comfortable' with deal Winnipeg Jets got for goalie Connor Hellebuyck "I've always said I'll be ready when my name is called, and this time it's not," Hellebuyck said about being willing to face the crowd. asserted

"I can only speak to my memories and my cherished moments in the city and, you know, I've loved every part of my career there. asserted

However I'm perceived, I'm going to choose love and I'm going to choose to remember … all the relationships I made and being part of that community and all the good times I had there." asserted

New Jersey head coach Sheldon Keefe said it's a busy schedule, and Hellebuyck missed training camp and has only played five times since joining the Devils, who have won nine of their last 10 games. asserted

"I understand the sensitivity to the situation when you're hyper-focused on that game, as the Jets fans would be, understandably," Keefe said. asserted

"From our perspective, when you zoom out, this is a goaltender that is not going to play every single game." asserted

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

Connor Hellebuyck wants Jets fans to know he cares Hellebuyck said he's thought a lot about what to say in Winnipeg. "It's an extremely complex decision," he said about leaving town. asserted

"No one's really nailed it on the head, because there's so many things that go into the decision, but there's also the thought that the media is the one that wins if we come out and just start speaking negatives on each other. asserted

I've still got some time. asserted

I have nothing [but] respect for the organization and respect for the guys in the Jets locker room. asserted