Devils GM Mehta: Hellebuyck won’t play Tuesday in Winnipeg

TORONTO — It appears that Connor Hellebuyck’s much-anticipated return to Winnipeg to face his former team won’t happen on Tuesday.

After stopping 23 shots in New Jersey’s 4-0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday, the Devils’ new netminder was informed by his team that he won’t face the Jets in the Manitoba capital.

“This has been an organizational decision for us that we’ve debated at length,” Devils’ general manager Sunny Mehta posted on the X platform Sunday. “Connor Hellebuyck was adamant that he felt a duty to play on Tuesday in Winnipeg.

“However, in our estimation, playing in this game would potentially give us a reduction in our expected win probability. Even though Connor isn’t playing, at his request, we will co-ordinate a media availability after Tuesday morning’s skate at Canada Life Centre.”

Hellebuyck was traded to the Devils by the Jets on Oct. 23, ending the star goalie’s stay in Manitoba, one that featured greatness during his 11 seasons, but ended with him suspended by the team after he requested a trade and failed to report for training camp.

In exchange for the three-time Vezina Trophy winner and the Hart Trophy winner as the NHL’s MVP in 2024-25, the Jets acquired forward Dawson Mercer, goalie Nico Daws, forward Nick Bjugstad, the rights to unsigned draft choice forward Alexander Command, New Jersey’s own second-round pick in the 2029 draft and New Jersey’s own seventh-round selection in the 2027 draft.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2026.