Connor Hellebuyck returned to Winnipeg on Tuesday night for the first time since his trade to New Jersey — and the Canada Life Centre crowd let him know exactly how it felt. The former Jets star was booed the moment he stepped on the ice for the pregame warmup, and his old team went on to beat the Devils 4-2.
Hellebuyck did not play. The Devils announced on Sunday that he would not start, citing a “reduction in our expected win probability”, with Jake Allen starting instead. His only ice time was the warmup — and that was enough for the fans.
“Helle sucks!” — a hostile homecoming
Jets fans chanted “Helle sucks!”, “coward” and “Where is Connor?” just 20 seconds into the game, then “Pull your goalie!” after Kyle Connor made it 2-0. Energised by the crowd, the Jets jumped to a 2-0 first-period lead and never looked back.
Hellebuyck spent his first 11 NHL seasons in Winnipeg after being drafted 130th overall in 2012. He requested a trade at the end of the 2025-26 season, was suspended when he did not report to training camp, and was traded on 23 October, the day the suspension was due to end. He has won his first five starts with New Jersey with a 1.96 goals-against average.
Mercer, the trade return, scores the winner
The night belonged to Dawson Mercer — acquired by Winnipeg as part of the Hellebuyck trade. Mercer scored twice: the opener at 7:54 of the first period and the tiebreaking power-play goal at 11:58 of the third. Fans chanted “Mercer’s better!” after his first goal.
Kyle Connor also scored twice, at 15:06 of the first on a two-man advantage and an unassisted empty-net goal with 58 seconds left. Goalie Nico Daws, also acquired in the Hellebuyck trade, made 19 saves for his first win with Winnipeg. The Jets outshot the Devils 25-21.
Closure for Winnipeg?
Winnipeg (8-8-3) won its fourth straight game after a nine-game losing skid. Coach Scott Arniel said he hoped the win brings closure to the saga. The teams meet again in New Jersey on 28 November.
It was another big night for Canadian hockey — the Oilers beat the Rangers 3-1 on Sunday — and Carey Price was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
Bhudev Bhagaliya is an experienced and senior journalist who has carved a distinct niche for himself in the world of Hindi journalism through his profound understanding and precise writing style. With over two decades of experience in the field of journalism, he has held key responsibilities at Dainik Hindustan for 12 years and at Amar Ujala for one year. Currently, he serves as the Content Editor for the Jagrook Youth News newspaper and portal, where he plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality and credibility of the news content. Bhudev Bhagaliya consistently writes about issues that help raise awareness within society and among the younger generation.