Connor Hellebuyck's return to Winnipeg will be much more anticlimactic than initially expected.
The New Jersey Devils goaltender won't start Tuesday's game against the Jets, the team announced Sunday night.
It will be Hellebuyck's first time at Canada Life Centre as a visiting player after the Jets traded him to the Devils in October.
Devils general manager Sunny Mehta said in a statement that starting Hellebuyck on Tuesday could reduce the Devils' odds of winning the game.
"This has been an organizational decision for us that we've debated at length," Mehta said. "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."
Tuesday marks New Jersey's only visit to Winnipeg this season.
Hellebuyck said he's "disappointed" but understands the Devils' decision.
"Selfishly, I want to play, but when you're looking at the team and what's best for the team, I understand where they're coming from," Hellebuyck told reporters.
He added: "I love Winnipeg, and playing there again and just facing the music and seeing the reaction, it'd be nice. But it's out of my hands."
Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe said Hellebuyck's workload is a big reason he won't start Tuesday.
"From our perspective, when you zoom out, this is a goaltender that is not going to play every single game of the season," Keefe told reporters, according to TSN's Chris Johnston. "You’re always looking for times to give him a night off."
Hellebuyck will speak to the media Tuesday in Winnipeg after a morning skate. He said he'll discuss why he requested a trade at that time. The goalie said Wednesday that "challenging" family circumstances were part of the reason he wanted to leave Winnipeg.
The 33-year-old went public with his trade request in August after initially asking out several months earlier. The Jets suspended him in September after he failed to report to training camp. Hellebuyck spent the first 11 seasons of his career in Winnipeg, winning three Vezina Trophies and one Hart Memorial Trophy.
Hellebuyck notched his first shutout as a Devil in Sunday's 4-0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. He's 5-0-0 with a 1.96 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage with his new team.
