The Devils Vs Jets matchup in Winnipeg will go ahead without Connor Hellebuyck in the crease, after New Jersey decided not to start him against his former team. It is a call that removes the most anticipated subplot from Tuesday night’s game at Canada Life Centre, even if Hellebuyck was clear he wanted to play.
On Sunday night, Devils general manager Sunny Mehta confirmed the decision, and the reaction was immediate. Scott Arniel called it a disappointment on Monday, while Kyle Connor said he was surprised by the news. For a game that had been circled because of Hellebuyck’s return to Winnipeg, the choice changes the tone completely.
Why the Devils made the call
Mehta said the decision was debated at length inside the organization. He also said Hellebuyck was adamant that he felt a duty to play in Winnipeg, but the Devils believed that doing so would reduce their expected win probability. That makes this less about emotion and more about what New Jersey think gives them the best chance to win.
That point matters because the Devils have won five straight and entered the night in strong form. They beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-0 on Sunday, with Hellebuyck saying after that game that he wanted to play in Winnipeg. But the club has clearly decided that sentiment cannot override the bigger picture.
Arniel and the Jets react
Arniel did not hide his frustration. He said the issue went beyond one game and spoke about the fans, the organization and the core players who had been with Hellebuyck from the beginning. His main concern was that the situation will keep lingering, especially with a rematch still to come on Nov. 28 at Prudential Center in Newark.
Arniel also made it plain that Winnipeg’s job does not change because Hellebuyck is absent. “We still have to beat the New Jersey Devils,” he said, stressing that the Jets must do what they need to do regardless of who starts in net for New Jersey. That is the practical reality for Winnipeg: the emotional angle is gone, but the game still matters.
What Hellebuyck said about the decision
Hellebuyck made it clear that he pushed to play. He said he and the team had a conversation, that he told them his thoughts, and that he ultimately has to listen to the decision that was made. “I was adamant that I want to play, but it is what it is,” he said.
Adam Lowry took a more measured view, saying there were clearly a lot of discussions behind the scenes and that it is hard to pass judgment without knowing everything. He accepted that the build-up would have been substantial if Hellebuyck had played, but the Devils have moved in a different direction.
With Jake Allen starting for New Jersey, the focus now shifts away from the return storyline and back to the result. The Devils and Jets meet on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET, and while the emotional hook has gone, the tension around the game has not.
