Devils Keep Hellebuyck on Bench for Winnipeg Return, Drawing Criticism

The New Jersey Devils made the controversial organizational decision to keep star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck on the bench as the backup for Tuesday's game against the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre. Instead of seeing Hellebuyck in the net, Jets fans and players saw Jake Allen start in goal for the visitors, a move that quickly drew sharp criticism from the Winnipeg coaching staff and surprised players.

Devils general manager Sunny Mehta announced the decision on Sunday night following a 4-0 shutout win against the Toronto Maple Leafs. According to Mehta, the choice was the result of extensive internal debate, concluding that starting Hellebuyck would potentially reduce the team's expected win probability. While Hellebuyck himself insisted he was adamant about playing against his former team, he noted that the final decision ultimately rested with management.

Winnipeg coach Scott Arniel did not hide his frustration regarding the lineup choice, pointing out how much the matchup meant to the team's ownership, fans, and core players who shared a long history with the goaltender. "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 he kind of left on," Arniel said on Monday. He added that the decision only drags out the situation rather than bringing closure to the fanbase.

Hellebuyck spent 11 seasons with the Jets organization after being drafted in 2012, securing three Vezina Trophies and the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player in the 2024-25 season. Following Winnipeg's failure to reach the playoffs last season, the veteran goaltender requested a trade in August, failed to report to training camp, and was subsequently suspended before being dealt to New Jersey in October.

Jets players admitted they were caught off guard by the absence of their former teammate on the ice. Forward Kyle Connor stated that he never considered the possibility of Hellebuyck sitting out the contest, while captain Adam Lowry noted that while he would have welcomed the competitive atmosphere, the team's primary focus remains securing two points in the standings.

Since arriving in New Jersey, Hellebuyck has performed exceptionally well, posting a 5-0-0 record with a 1.96 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage. Meanwhile, the Jets enter the matchup riding a three-game winning streak. With the Devils visiting Winnipeg only once this regular season, Arniel noted that questions surrounding Hellebuyck's return will likely linger until the Jets travel to New Jersey to face the Devils on November 28.