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The Devils cited ‘expected win probability’ in decision to sit goalie Connor Hellebuyck against his former team
While Connor Hellebuyck wanted to face his former team on his first trip back to Winnipeg, the New Jersey Devils’ front office had other ideas. And those ideas were based on analytics, according to a statement from the team.
In a statement from general manager Sunny Mehta, the New Jersey Devils said goalie Connor Hellebuyck would not play against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday, November 10, despite the goaltender making it clear he wanted the assignment against his former team.
Hellebuyck spent the first 11 seasons of his NHL career with the Winnipeg franchise from 2015 to 2026 and won the Vezina Trophy as the team’s keeper three times (2020, 2024, 2025).
The New Jersey Devils cited ‘expected win probability’ in their decision to sit goalie Connor Hellebuyck against his former team
A statement from Devils GM Sunny Mehta on our game Tuesday in Winnipeg. https://t.co/xrF8OBaHXe
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) November 9, 2026
The statement acknowledged that Hellebuyck felt a responsibility to play in Winnipeg before explaining that the organization believed keeping him out would give the team a better chance to win. The Devils are expected to start Jake Allen against Winnipeg instead.
“However, in our estimation, playing in this game would potentially give us a reduction in our expected win probability,” Mehta said.
The Devils’ statement went viral on social media due to the inclusion of the phrase “a reduction in our expected win probability,” which prompted immediate and widespread backlash from sports fans.
“What the f— are we doing here?” read the most viral response to the post from hockey media personality Pete Blackburn.
“Legitimately one of the most unbelievable statements issued by a team in sports history,” another stunned, popular reply wrote.
“The Devils could have claimed Connor Hellebuyck got diarrhea from eating expired chili from a dumpster behind Wendy’s and that would’ve been less embarrassing than missing the Jets game because his playing could ‘potentially give us a reduction in our expected win probability,'” a third summarized.
In my estimation…this may be the softest statement released in NHL history
“Potentially give us a reduction in our expected win probability”😂😂
— Nasher (@TheNasher61) November 9, 2026
Sunny, this is Connor Hellebuyck.
He’s the greatest goalie of his generation.
His defect is that playing the Winnipeg Jets would potentially give us a reduction in our expected win probability. https://t.co/5HKKSVL3mr
— Adam Laskaris (@adam_la2karis) November 9, 2026
Embarssing!!
— Ryan Whitney (@ryanwhitney6) November 9, 2026
According to Devils’ head coach Sheldon Keefe, workload and conditioning were key factors in the decision to rest Hellebuyck — who missed training camp and preseason — as starting against Winnipeg would mean playing four games in eight nights. Hellebuyck has started in just five games so far this season.
“I’m disappointed, but I understand,” Hellebuyck told reporters on Sunday.
Almost through the first quarter of the 2026/27 NHL season, the Devils currently have the third-best record in the Eastern Conference at 13-5 (26 points).