The NHL was rocked by a massive trade on Friday that saw the Winnipeg Jets deal three-time Vezina Trophy winner, Olympic gold medalist and soon-to-be Medal of Freedom recipient Connor Hellebuyck to the New Jersey Devils.
The goalie hasn’t played so far this season after asking for a trade over the summer, but now that it’s done, he’s gearing up to hit the ice and has addressed the New Jersey media for the first time.
“Sitting at home for so long was getting to me. For myself, I’m just really excited to play hockey again,” Hellebuyck said on Saturday, per the Associated Press. “I’m joining a very skilled group. They brought me for a certain specific role. I’m really excited to fill that role, not only on the ice but off the ice as well.”
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The Devils are off to a good start this season with a 7-4-0 record after Saturday’s win over the Los Angeles Kings, during which netminder Jake Allen was between the pipes. Adding a goalie of Hellebuyck’s caliber to the lineup could mean that goals will be at a premium for any team that plays the Devils.
But for Hellebuyck, it will be different playing in New Jersey compared to a Canadian market like Winnipeg, something he was asked about.
“I mean, it’s a catch-22; some people love that,” he said of playing in markets where people bug players about hockey while they’re trying to grocery shop. “Sometimes you just want to be left alone. Canada loves their hockey, and I felt that to the bone, and 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. “I know that I’ve enjoyed both and I’ve experienced both. It’s just one of those things that’s part of hockey culture… they love their hockey, and we love our hockey in our own way, and that should be celebrated.”
It was quite the diplomatic answer, and we’ll see how it goes in just a few weeks when Hellebuyck and the Devils visit Winnipeg on November 10.