One of the most anticipated games of the young NHL season is now ground zero for a firestorm of controversy. The New Jersey Devils have put out a shocking statement saying that they will NOT be playing Connor Hellebuyck in net Tuesday night in Winnipeg for what would have been his return to the team he bolted from after 11 years.
The Devils' controversial statement—which used the excuse that playing Hellebuyck "would potentially give us a reduction in our expected win probability"—has left everyone around the hockey world stunned, confused, and, in many cases, angry.
From the Tom Gazzola Show on Sports 1440: "That is disgusting, that statement! What a load of steaming..."
"It's so pathetic... Flat-out embarrassing."
Not allowing Hellebuyck to face Jets in Winnipeg is 'Garbage', 'Disgusting', 'Insane'
On TSN with Jay Onrait, the host called it "the wildest, most bizarre press release in the history of the NHL... This is insane!"
Bryan Hayes responded to Jay, calling it "Soft as butter".
"Any sensible Devils fan has to be looking at their own organization in disgust. That one comment is so disgusting: "Reduction in our expected win probability"?
Matt Marchese and Mike Futa on The Fan Hockey Show called it "Garbage."
"It's not fair to the sport... I understand that there's a place for analytics in sports. But DO NOT TELL ME... that Connor Hellebuyck gives you 'a reduction in your expected win probability'! It's garbage! Give me a break!"
Elliotte Friedman said on his 32 Thoughts podcast Monday morning that making him available to the media earlier in the day just won't do it.
"Those Jets fans are not going to accept that he's not playing... They are not going to accept whatever reason he gives on Tuesday morning. It's going to make it impossible for Hellebuyck to sell leaving.
"I just don't think the Devils realize... and I'm not even sure Hellebuyck realizes this, but it won't allow him to explain himself. Because people are just going to say, 'He ran from Winnipeg just like he ran from this start.'
"If it was me, it would just make me so angry... I would just be so upset if I wasn't allowed to start that game... It's not something I understand. I can't wrap my head around it."
Soft tweets
Lebrun
Wyshynski
Even though it was (Devils GM) Sunny Mehta's decision, and Hellebuyck tried to push back, saying he was disappointed and would like to play, the goalie certainly isn’t escaping this decision unscathed.
Sportsnet columnist Eric Engels put it frankly: "If you’re bold enough to demand a trade two years into the seven-year deal you were given to be a franchise goaltender, surely you can be bold enough to demand the net in your first return to the city you asked out of."
Insider calls Devils statement on not playing Hellebuyck 'a lie'
"There's no model, there's no statistical model that exists on planet Earth that says that the New Jersey Devils have a better chance with Jake Allen facing the Jets. Jake Allen of 11 career losses to the Winnipeg Jets.
"By trying to get ahead of it, you've now made it a bigger circus than it otherwise would have been."
We have certainly not heard the last of this.
