Embattled New Jersey Devils goaltender Connor Hellebuyck faced chants of ‘coward’ and ‘Helle sucks’ when he wasn’t being mercilessly booed in his return to Winnipeg on Tuesday night.The Michigan native became persona non grata in Manitoba after leading Team USA to Olympic gold at the Milan-Cortina Games and later receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Donald Trump – himself a controversial figure in Canada due to an ongoing trade war.Since then, Hellebuyck demanded a trade out of Winnipeg and was later suspended by the Jets before being sent to New Jersey late last month for a bevy of players, draft picks and other assets. Hellebuyck responded to the fresh start by going 5-0 with the Devils over the last few weeks while holding opponents to fewer than two goals a game.But despite his early success for New Jersey, Hellebuyck was scratched for Tuesday’s game in Winnipeg because, as Devils general manager Sunny Mehta said in a statement, he would ‘potentially’ reduce the team’s ‘expected win probability.’Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe later clarified that he wanted to rest Hellebuyck for an upcoming home-and-home with the division-rival Washington Capitals. But whatever the truth may be, Hellebuyck didn’t play in Tuesday’s 4-2 loss to Winnipeg after accusing local fans earlier in the day of threatening his family – something he claimed prompted his trade request. Embattled New Jersey Devils goaltender Connor Hellebuyck faced chants of ‘coward’ and ‘Helle sucks’ when he wasn’t being mercilessly booed in his return to Winnipeg Jets fans packed the Canada Life Centre on Tuesday with signs reading ‘hit the road’ and ‘.886,’ which is a nod to his save percentage during a disappointing playoff run in 2023’I’ve been very connected with this community, and I’ve loved my time here, but there are a few moments that I don’t want to see happen again,’ Hellebuyck told reporters before the game. ‘It is more than just online death threats, and I’m going to ask you to respect my privacy and my family’s privacy. I won’t go deeper than that.’In theory, the decision to scratch Hellebuyck should have spared the Olympic gold medalist and Team USA hero some vitriol in Winnipeg. But in practice, it seemed to have the opposite effect. Fans fumed throughout his pre-game warmups, and later demanded in chorus that the Devils pull starter Jake Allen in favor of Hellebuyck. In addition to ‘coward,’ Hellebuyck also faced chants of ‘Trump’s your daddy,’ ‘where is Connor?’ and ‘signed in pencil,’ which is a reference to the seven-year, $60 million deal he inked with Winnipeg three years earlier.At the time, Hellebuyck said he hoped to be a ‘Jet for life,’ and speaking to reporters before Tuesday’s game, he insisted he was being honest.’And the day that I said I was a Jet for life, I meant it, but I also didn’t foresee the future that was going to happen,’ he said. Hellebuyck’s reputation for postseason struggles was a theme for his critics on Tuesday That future, as Hellebuyck revealed Tuesday in Winnipeg, not only included death threats against his family, but other specific incidents which he declined to explain further with reporters.Previously, Jets spokespeople said local police and team security got involved as threats against Hellebuyck spiked in the months before he was traded. ‘There was some moments and some things that happened to my family that, for me, crossed the line and as a husband and a father, I felt made that decision very certain,’ Hellebuyck said. ‘I needed to be a good husband and a good father and do what’s best for my family and my career.’Hellebuyck claimed he still has a ‘strong emotional connection’ to Winnipeg, but does think his Olympic victory with Team USA over Team Canada in the gold medal game may have fueled the backlash against him in Manitoba.’I’m sure it did a little bit,’ he said. ‘I don’t think it matters if it’s fair or not. Hellebuyck didn’t watch from the bench, but instead remained in the locker room Tuesday ‘Those are accomplishments that I will never apologize for, and I will never speak negatively about,’ the 33-year-old continued. ‘I know the sensitivity about what’s going on between the US and Canada, and I’ve never gotten into politics deep with anyone because I’m a hockey player.’Hellebuyck went on to say he wanted to play against Winnipeg and said as much to the team, which confirmed his account in its own statement.’I’m 14 days into a new team, and they handle their business differently than I’m used to,’ Hellebuyck said. ‘When I went in there and said my piece and said I felt it was my duty to play this game and said ‘I want to play,’ I had a good conversation with [Keefe and Mehta], and I left that conversation understanding where they’re at.’Undeterred, Jets fans still packed the Canada Life Centre on Tuesday with signs reading ‘hit the road’ and ‘.886,’ which is a nod to his save percentage during a disappointing playoff run in 2023.Last week, Jets head coach Scott Arniel said he wanted Hellebuyck to play Tuesday. ‘He just gave up on us, and so it would be nice to just finally be done with this,’ Arniel said Thursday. The final word on the subject came after the Devils’ defeat, as the Jets social media team posted: ‘Expected Win Probability 100%.’