Connor Hellebuyck Joins Devils After Trade Deal Finalized

A massive trade shook the NHL this Friday as the Winnipeg Jets sent three-time Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck to the New Jersey Devils. This goaltender, an Olympic gold medalist and soon-to-be Medal of Freedom recipient, has not played yet this season after requesting a move over the summer. Now that the deal is final, he is preparing to return to the ice and spoke with New Jersey media for the first time.

"Sitting at home for so long was getting to me," Hellebuyck told reporters on Saturday via the Associated Press. "For myself, I'm just really excited to play hockey again." He added that he joins a very skilled group hired specifically for his unique role. "I'm really excited to fill that role, not only on the ice but off the ice as well."

The Devils look strong right now with a 7-4-0 record following Saturday's victory over the Los Angeles Kings, where Jake Allen stopped the puck between the pipes. Bringing in a goalie of Hellebuyck's caliber could make scoring difficult for any opposing team visiting New Jersey soon. However, life in this market will differ significantly from his time in Winnipeg, a Canadian hub he was asked about during interviews.

"It means it's a catch-22; some people love that," he explained regarding markets where fans hassle players while they try to shop for groceries at the local store. "Sometimes you just want to be left alone." He noted that Canada loves hockey deeply and felt that connection in his bones. "I loved my time there, and I've loved the people I've met. Made a lot of good friends and built good relationships there."

"So, I can't say that one is better than the other," he continued after praising his former team. "I know that I've enjoyed both and I've experienced both." He framed these cultural differences as part of hockey itself. "They love their hockey, and we love our hockey in our own way, and that should be celebrated."

This diplomatic answer will face its true test just a few weeks from now when Hellebuyck and the Devils travel to Winnipeg on November 10. Fans there will watch closely to see how he handles returning to a place where so many of his supporters once cheered for him.