Hellebuyck says concerns for his family and uncertain career path led him to request a trade from the Jets

Hellebuyck spent 11 seasons in Winnipeg after the Jets selected him in the fifth round (130th overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft. He posted a record of 345-208-55 and won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s best goaltender three times (2019-20, 2023-24, 2024-25) and the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player in 2024-25.

Last season, Hellebuyck helped Team USA win gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics, beating Team Canada 2-1 in overtime in the gold medal game.

But things seemed to be changing for the American goaltender returning to this eager Canadian market after the Olympics. The post-Olympic celebration includes his visit to the White House and US President Donald Trump’s State of the Union presentation. Trump, who was engaged in a trade war with Canada, said during his speech that Hellebuyck would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Hellebuyck, when asked if Trump’s honor made him a target of Canadian fans, said: “I’m sure it did a little bit. Is it fair? I don’t think it matters whether it’s fair or not. Those are accomplishments that I will never apologize for and never speak negatively about.”

He then admitted that things were different after the Olympics.

“I would be lying to you if you said my life hasn’t changed since the Olympics because it has changed in a very big way,” Hellebuyck said. “But when you look at border issues, I had a good team around me, I lived my life here pretty well.

“Are there any challenges being an American playing in Canada? Definitely. But there are also a lot of positives. The hockey market in Canada is weird. It’s amazing to play up front and as a hockey player you love it. And I don’t mean to talk bad about either one, they’re just different markets and I enjoy both and I’ve enjoyed my time here (in New Jersey). I don’t want to say there’s a problem of border in this decision.

After making his trade request public, Hellebuyck failed to report to Jets training camp in September and was subsequently suspended by the team.

On October 23, the day the suspension expired, he was traded to New Jersey for forward Dawson Mercer, goaltender Nico Daws, forward Nick Bjugstad, the rights to unsigned forward Alexander Command, New Jersey’s second-round pick in the 2029 NHL Draft, and his own seventh-round selection in the 2027 NHL Draft.

Hellebuyck is 5-0-0 with the Devils with a 1.96 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage. He made 23 saves in a 4-0 shutout of the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday, and after the game, Mehta released a statement saying Hellebuyck would not start when he returned to Winnipeg.

The news didn’t sit well with Jets coach Scott Arniel, who hoped playing Hellebuyck would bring the whole saga closer together.

“That’s the part that’s hard for me. He just abandoned us, and it would be nice to get that over with and all this is doing is dragging him out,” Arniel said Monday. “And in nine more games (when the Jets visit the Devils on Nov. 28), we’re going to start and talk about it here. That’s the biggest disappointment for me.”

Hellebuyck didn’t like it when his former coach said he had “given up” on the Jets.

“Obviously from an emotional standpoint it hurts,” Hellebuyck said. “But I understand there are a lot of emotions going on right now, I feel them myself – all the relationships I’ve built over the years, and there’s a strong emotional connection I have here.

“I’m not going to tell anyone what’s right and what’s wrong about how you should feel and how you should act. It’s your life and however you want to accept what’s happening, you should do it.”