Connor Hellebuyck is ready for a new chapter with the New Jersey Devils, but he knows there are still some things left unsaid after his departure from the Winnipeg Jets.
The veteran goaltender was introduced by the Devils on Saturday, one day after the blockbuster trade that ended his 11-season tenure in Winnipeg and sent him to New Jersey.
The summer-long trade saga — one that spilled into the season — finally ended with a deal that saw Hellebuyck land in New Jersey with prospect Alexander Command, goalie Nico Daws, forwards Dawson Mercer and Nick Bjugstad and a pair of draft picks heading the other way.
Asked what he wanted to say to Jets fans after what was a bitter end, Hellebuyck said he would wait until after Winnipeg's Heritage Classic on Sunday before addressing them.
“There's a lot. There's a lot that I need to say, but they have the Heritage game coming up, so as respect for them and for celebration of hockey, I'm going to postpone that to a later date,” Hellebuyck said.
“And I hope they know I care about them.”
For now, after spending an extended stretch away from NHL game action, Hellebuyck said he was eager to get back on the ice and begin working with his new teammates.
“Sitting at home for so long was getting to me,” Hellebuyck said. “For myself, I'm just really excited to play hockey again, and I'm joining a very skilled group.”
Devils GM Sunny Mehta said earlier Saturday the team is still putting together a plan for Hellebuyck's return to game action, adding it would be a cautious and collaborative approach.
“We're going to wait. We're going to see," Metha said. "We also want to be smart. And again, every decision we make is calculated.”
New Jersey has eight games — starting Saturday against the Los Angeles Kings — before its lone visit of the season to Winnipeg on Nov. 10.
Hellebuyck said he understands the role the Devils expect him to fill, both on the ice and in the dressing room, and is looking forward to the opportunity.
“It's a new chapter for my career and I'm really excited for the future here,” he said.
The move also represents a fresh start for Hellebuyck. While his family had not yet joined him in New Jersey by Saturday, he said they would be arriving soon as they begin settling into their new surroundings.
“It's a new chapter for my family. It's a new exciting time for us,” Hellebuyck said. “It's a new challenge. And that's what's so exciting for me.”
Hellebuyck acknowledged that there will be an adjustment period as he gets re-acclimated to NHL practices and the pace of the game. He has been skating in Michigan with NHL-calibre players Robby Fabbri and Antonio Stranges, using the time away from the league to prepare for his eventual return.
He described the past month as a prolonged training camp, saying the sessions allowed him to focus on fine-tuning his game without the usual demands of a full NHL season.
While he said he believes it will be important to get accustomed to practising with the Devils, Hellebuyck does not expect the transition to take long.
The 33-year-old also made it clear that the opportunity to pursue a Stanley Cup was a significant part of the appeal. Hellebuyck won Olympic gold with the United States earlier this year, but a championship at the NHL level remains the major achievement he wants to add to his résumé.
“I'm here to win, and the only thing I got left on my résumé is a Stanley Cup,” Hellebuyck said.
He said he sees a team in New Jersey with the offensive talent to compete and believes his job will be to provide stability in goal, giving the Devils confidence to play their game.
“I've always been a believer that defence wins championships,” Hellebuyck said. “That being said, you have to be able to score. And that's exactly what they have here. They have a blend of that.”
Hellebuyck also said he hopes to bring lessons from the United States' Olympic experience into his new dressing room, adding he intends to build relationships with teammates and establish himself as someone they can rely on during the season.
He said the Olympic experience reinforced the importance of understanding his responsibilities and avoiding the temptation to do too much.
Now, Hellebuyck has his sights set on bringing a similar celebration to New Jersey.
