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When the New Jersey Devils visit the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre on Tuesday night, Connor Hellebuyck will be watching from the bench rather than guarding the net against his former club. The Devils acquired Hellebuyck from Winnipeg last month in a blockbuster trade, but he will not get the chance to face his old teammates in his return to the city.
Hellebuyck is coming off an impressive performance, having recorded his first shutout with New Jersey in a 4-0 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday. Despite his strong play, the decision was made to sit him for the matchup with Winnipeg.
"I'm disappointed, but I understand," Hellebuyck said, via Sportsnet. "Selfishly, I want to play. But when you're looking at what's best for the team, I understand where they're coming from. It's out of my hands."
The former Hart Trophy winner was asked about his desire to play against the Jets and acknowledged that he would have relished the challenge, even if the reception from Winnipeg fans might be more hostile than usual. "I love Winnipeg. Playing there again, facing the music, seeing the reaction. It'd be nice," he explained.
The Devils cited two main reasons for the benching. General Manager Sunny Mehta stated that the decision was based on the team's expected win probability for the game, while Head Coach Sheldon Keefe pointed to the veteran goaltender's workload. As a result, fans will not have the opportunity to express their emotions toward Hellebuyck on the ice, but the former NHL MVP will be present to take in the atmosphere.
The Devils and Jets face off on Tuesday night in Winnipeg, with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. Eastern Time.
Originally reported by yahoo.