We now know the real reason Connor Hellebuyck wanted out of Winnipeg

Connor Hellebuyck's explanation for wanting out of Winnipeg is already facing some serious scrutiny, and a new report from NHL insider Frank Seravalli could make things even more uncomfortable for the former Jets goaltender.

Hellebuyck returned to Winnipeg on Tuesday for the first time since being traded to the New Jersey Devils, finally addressing the media about the circumstances that led to his departure. While he stopped short of providing specific details, the three-time Vezina Trophy winner suggested that incidents involving his family played a major role in his decision to leave Manitoba.

"There was some moments and some things that happened to my family that for me crossed the line ... There were a few moments that I don't want to see happen again. It's more than just online death threats and I'm gonna ask you to respect my privacy and my family's privacy, I won't go deeper than that, but there's more that made me and my family uncomfortable. On top of some uncertainty with my career, I felt a change of scenery was best."

Those are obviously serious allegations, and nobody should have to deal with threats or harassment simply because they play professional hockey.

However, there's now an important question surrounding Hellebuyck's claims.

According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, Hellebuyck never reported any threats or fan-related incidents to either the Winnipeg Jets organization or Winnipeg Police.

That's a rather significant detail, particularly given how much emphasis Hellebuyck has placed on the alleged incidents involving his family when explaining his decision to request a trade.

You would think that if a player and his family were experiencing incidents serious enough to make them feel unsafe in their own community, the organization would at least be made aware of the situation directly by the player.

It also raises questions about what exactly happened, when these incidents supposedly took place, and why Hellebuyck never personally brought them to the attention of the appropriate authorities.

My take? I think that Hellebuyck certainly did receive death threats online. Honestly, while it's disgusting, I bet that most professional athletes have to deal with this sort of stuff often. Hell, I'm just a lowly hockey blogger and I deal with it every week. In fact, I'm sure this article alone will get me some nasty emails.

Of course, most athletes ignore this sort of stuff or they simply turn off social media. Hellebuyck could have done that, but I think that he instead created a victim narrative for himself and saw it through so that he could get what he wanted. And what he wanted was what he saw from his buddies Quinn Hughes and Brady Tkachuk... he wanted a fresh start.

It's worth noting that Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff had previously indicated that team security had been in contact with Winnipeg Police. However, Seravalli's reporting introduces an important distinction: Hellebuyck himself apparently never made a report to either the team or police.

Hellebuyck has repeatedly asked for privacy when discussing the situation, and that's certainly understandable when his family is involved. But it's also difficult to ignore the questions that arise when a player makes serious allegations about his former community without providing any supporting details.

The controversy surrounding Hellebuyck's departure was already considerable before Tuesday's press conference. He requested a trade on August 27, refused to report to training camp in September and was eventually suspended by the Jets before being dealt to New Jersey on October 23.

Now, instead of putting the controversy behind him, his comments have created another major talking point.

Hellebuyck is entitled to protect his family's privacy, but Winnipeg fans are equally entitled to question his explanation, particularly when reports now suggest that he never personally reported the alleged incidents to the organization or local police.