Hellebuyck says family incidents drove Jets trade request

Connor Hellebuyck said incidents involving his family, along with uncertainty about his career, contributed to his decision to request a trade from the Winnipeg Jets. Speaking to reporters in Winnipeg before the New Jersey Devils played his former team on November 10, the goaltender declined to describe the incidents, saying they went beyond online death threats and asking that his family’s privacy be respected.

Hellebuyck said some moments crossed a line and made his family uncomfortable. He said the family chose to handle the matter privately, and that a change of scenery was best for them and his career. He has not publicly detailed what occurred. The accounts of the incidents and their role in his decision are based on Hellebuyck’s statements.

The goalie also said he believed his success with the United States at the February Olympics and the team’s White House reception may have contributed to a target being placed on him. The Americans won gold against Canada, and President Donald Trump announced Hellebuyck would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Hellebuyck acknowledged criticism in Canada but did not establish that it caused the family incidents or drove his...