- Kyle Connor said the Jets are “super excited” about the players who “want to be here” after the Connor Hellebuyck trade
- Connor was Hellebuyck’s Team USA teammate and called his exit “heartbreaking” when camp opened
- Read below for what the Jets got back and how Hellebuyck responded
Kyle Connor didn’t sound like a guy who’s going to miss Connor Hellebuyck.
Connor was asked for his first thoughts on the Hellebuyck trade ahead of Sunday’s Heritage Classic against the Canadiens. The Jets forward kept his answer pointed and pretty short.
“Super excited to get the guys we have in the fold who want to be here and want to be part of Winnipeg Jets hockey,” Connor said.
Here’s the graphic we put together from his quote:
The last part of that line is the one that stings. Hellebuyck asked out in the summer, refused to report to training camp and sat suspended until the Jets finally moved him to the New Jersey Devils on Friday. Connor and Hellebuyck also played together for Team USA.
That makes this a big change in tone. When camp opened and the suspension hit, Connor said the news was “heartbreaking” and that a lot of guys in the room felt that way. He wouldn’t speculate on the reason until he heard from Hellebuyck himself.
Winnipeg got Dawson Mercer, Nick Bjugstad, goalie Nico Daws, prospect Alexander Command, a 2029 second-round pick and a 2027 seventh-rounder in the deal. Mercer arrived Friday night and is expected to play on a line with captain Adam Lowry in the Heritage Classic. Bjugstad is still out after offseason surgery and isn’t expected back until at least January.
Lowry used the word “relief” when he talked about the trade. He said a cloud had been hanging over the group and that the Jets can finally stop answering questions about it. Coach Scott Arniel said the noise never got into the room, and that it’s time to turn the page.
Hellebuyck has been more careful with his words. He said Saturday that he has a lot to say about the Jets but is holding it until after the Heritage Classic, out of respect for them and the event. Watch him explain:
“There’s a lot that I need to say, but they have the Heritage game coming up, so out of respect for them and the celebration of hockey, I’m gonna postpone that to a later date,” Hellebuyck said. “I hope they know I care about them.”
We covered the rest of that press conference in our Hellebuyck reaction story. General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff also joined the Sportsnet panel in Winnipeg on Saturday to talk about the trade:
Jets and Canadiens drop the puck at Princess Auto Stadium at 7 p.m. ET, and our Heritage Classic preview has the full setup. Hellebuyck’s full thoughts are coming after that, and Connor just gave us a preview of how his old teammates feel.
