Connor Hellebuyck probably circled Tuesday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets on his calendar a long time ago. After all, this is his first chance to return to the city where he spent 11 seasons and became one of the NHL’s best goaltenders.

But the New Jersey Devils have other ideas. They’ve decided Hellebuyck won’t play, even though he made it clear he wanted to be in the net. It’s not an easy decision, but I think the Devils have three pretty good reasons for making it.

First, Hellebuyck Needs to Get His Workload Under Control

Hellebuyck has been excellent since joining New Jersey. He’s 5-0-0 with a 1.96 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage. He also just shut out the Maple Leafs, stopping all 23 shots he faced.

But he’s still getting back into the regular season after missing training camp and the start of the season. He’s already played three games in six nights. The Devils don’t want to push their most important goaltender too hard this early in his time with the team.

That’s sensible. A November game, even one with plenty of emotion attached to it, isn’t worth risking the long-term health of a goaltender New Jersey is counting on.

Second, Bigger Games Are Coming for the Devils

The Devils have two important games against the Washington Capitals waiting for them later this week. Those are divisional matchups, and points against a team in your own division can matter a great deal when the standings tighten up.

New Jersey is off to a strong 13-5-0 start. There’s no reason to lose sight of the bigger season picture because one game carries extra attention. Jake Allen will get the opportunity against Winnipeg. His numbers haven’t been as impressive as Hellebuyck’s, but he’s an experienced NHL goaltender with a 6-3-0 record. The Devils have to trust him to handle the job.

Third, The Devils Need to Think Beyond the Winnipeg Story

This is probably the toughest part. Hellebuyck wants to play, and it’s easy to understand why. Winnipeg fans will have plenty to say after the way his departure from the Jets unfolded. But this isn’t really about giving Hellebuyck a chance to settle things with his former team. It’s about winning hockey games. The Devils have made a major investment in him, and they need to look after that investment.

Hellebuyck will still have his chance to speak with Winnipeg media on Tuesday. The hockey part can wait.

I understand why fans might be disappointed not to see him play. It would have been quite a night. But New Jersey didn’t acquire Hellebuyck for one game in Winnipeg. They acquired him to help them win over the next several seasons. That’s the bigger picture.

Related: Can Anything Help the Vancouver Canucks’ Young Defencemen?