Frank Seravalli just reported that Connor Hellebuyck did not tell the Jets about threats beyond online abuse, hours before the Devils visit Winnipeg.
Hellebuyck's return as a Devil was already loaded. This morning he said things happened to his family that crossed the line, and Connor Hellebuyck's comments in Winnipeg set the tone for the day. Seravalli's follow-up goes straight at the timeline.
According to Seravalli, multiple sources say Hellebuyck did not notify the Jets, or Winnipeg Police, last season of any fan behavior "more than just online death threats."
He did tell the club that he and/or his family were targeted online on the night of State of the Union. Seravalli reports that appropriate action was taken.
What the Jets did not hear about, sources said, were any additional alleged actions, threats, vandalism or fan behavior that "crossed the line." That information reached the organization only late in the summer, with training camp approaching.
Say the sources are right. Then the Jets acted on what they knew, and the gap between last season and late summer is the part Hellebuyck has to explain. An organization can't respond to what it was never told.
Hellebuyck's side, as he described it this morning, is that his family was affected. Both things can be true at once, and that's what makes this so messy. A clear timeline from his camp would help far more than another round of dueling sources.
Why the timeline matters tonight in Winnipeg
Because the game is tonight, and the building will have an opinion either way. The Devils arrive 13-5-0 and winners of five straight, while the Jets sit 7-8-3 but have won three in a row.
Chris Johnston reported that Hellebuyck won't start for the Devils in Winnipeg, though he will hear the boos. So the biggest storyline of the night may never touch the crease.
Seravalli's report adds a layer to every camera shot of Hellebuyck on the bench. Fans in Winnipeg now have a sourced version of events that conflicts with the goalie's own, and they will have it in their heads at puck drop.
Quick hits
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS: Sources told Anthony Di Marco the Flyers' veterans are the biggest problem, and Travis Konecny is among those named. That is a pointed accusation to make about a locker room.
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PITTSBURGH PENGUINS: Dan Kingerski reports new Penguins lines after practice in Anaheim, with Nicholas Robertson getting a promotion. Fans have wanted to see him get a bigger look.
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ANAHEIM DUCKS: Troy Terry is likely to play Wednesday against Nashville, according to RotoWire. That would be his season debut, and a welcome one for the Ducks.
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UTAH MAMMOTH: RotoWire lists Dylan Guenther as questionable for Wednesday's game at Vegas. Any absence would leave a hole in the Mammoth lineup.
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INJURY: Mathew Barzal, Matias Maccelli and Ryan Pulock were all in regular practice jerseys for the Islanders in San Jose this morning, according to Andrew Gross. That's a good sign for New York.
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This article was written with the help of artificial intelligence, based on public reports and official sources.
Should Connor Hellebuyck have told the Jets about everything sooner?
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