Connor Hellebuyck gives vague explanation for trade request away from Jets

It is certainly his right to keep that private, and without fully knowing the details, it's hard to make much of a judgement on that.

What we can do is look at the facts that preceded his trade out of Winnipeg.

• When the regular season concluded, he torched management and questioned their ability to build a team that could win.
• He is one of several players on the gold-medal-winning Team USA Olympic roster who requested a trade away from their current roster, joining a new roster that had another Team USA member on it. Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin is still waiting for his trade request to be satisfied.
• He did not show up for training camp, was suspended by the team and eventually tried to force the team's hand to trade him by wanting to show back up.
• He was then traded to New Jersey.

That is not speculation. Those are simply facts. They are also the only facts fans in Winnipeg are going to care about it, and it is almost certainly going to lead to one of the most hostile reactions of any former player returning this season.

We have already seen how these trade requests have gone over, with Larkin being vilified in Detroit, Brady Tkachuk getting absolutely roasted in his return by Ottawa Senators fans and Vancouver Canucks fans doing the same to defenseman Quinn Hughes.

Winnipeg fans have always been one of the more relentless crowds in the league, and they are not going to make it a fun environment for Hellebuyck on Tuesday, Nov. 10 when the Devils make their visit.