Taylor Swift Breakup Song Lyrics for Connor Hellebuyck and the Ongoing NHL Trade Dramas

In one of the most galaxy-brained decisions we've seen in recent memory, Connor Hellebuyck was not in net in his first trip to Winnipeg as a New Jersey Devil.

"I can feel the frustration of the fans," Jets head coach Scott Arniel said. "I can feel the frustration just in the fact that we wanted to get this put to bed. That's the biggest thing. Now it's not getting put to bed here. It's going to linger, but it is what it is."

Meanwhile, the Devils maintain that they had their reasons.

"This has been an organizational decision for us that we debated at length," GM Sunny Mehta said in a statement. "Connor Hellebuyck was adamant that he felt a duty to play on Tuesday in Winnipeg. However, in our estimation, playing in this game would potentially give us a reduction in our expected win probability."

To be fair, the Devils have a two-game series with the in-division Capitals next on deck. It makes sense that they're focused on winning hockey games and continuing to rack up divisional points against actual playoff contenders in the Metro.

At the same time, it feels like the latest in a series of slaps in the face from Hellebuyck to the Jets fanbase, and the comments from his former teammates indicate disappointment, too.

In honor of all the mess and all the drama, here are the perfect Taylor Swift breakup song lyrics for each ongoing NHL trade request saga.

And remember, NHL fans: Our girl Taylor might have given us these gut-wrenching ballads, but look at her now. Be patient, and feel all of your feels in the meantime.

Dylan Larkin and the Detroit Red Wings

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Song: Renegade

There was nowhere for me to stay/But I stayed anyway.

The Dylan Larkin saga is pretty heartbreaking all around. The hometown kid spent a decade with his beloved Red Wings and rose to captaincy. He saw hope and promise roll through town with great drafting, as players like Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond joined the fold.

But the Yzerplan had nearly a decade to unfold, and even though the right in-house pieces kept developing, GM Steve Yzerman failed to keep his thumb on the trade and free-agent markets. You thought his most successful move—acquiring Alex DeBrincat—would've encouraged him to keep making those kinds of moves. Season after season, we were wondering when the final touches would be made, and we were treated to post-prime Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko.

You can't really blame Larkin for being fed up, especially when management is now stalling on hiring a full-time GM to replace Yzerman.

There was nowhere for Larkin to stay, but he stayed anyway—on the bench, that is.

Brady Tkachuk and the Ottawa Senators

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Song: Florida!!!

I've got some regrets, I'll bury them in Florida/Tell me I'm despicable, say it's unforgivable

I think we can all agree that the Brady Tkachuk and the Senators saga has finally come to a close.

He faced the music on Oct. 21 and scored a goal in his return to Ottawa, but the Senators ultimately got their revenge with a 5-1 win and two important in-division standings points.

We probably won't remember the exact score of Tkachuk's first game back in Ottawa, but we will remember each and every way Senators fans called him "despicable" and said it's "unforgivable."

Quinn Hughes and the Minnesota Wild

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Song: Lavender Haze

They're bringin' up my history/But you aren't even listening.

It's often hard to stay focused on the task at hand amid contract talks and trade rumors, but Quinn Hughes and the Wild have done a fantastic job of shutting out the noise as they keep strengthening their hold on the Central Division.

Ironically, that feels like the exact thing they need to do to keep a player like pending UFA Hughes in the first place.

Fans and media are constantly speculating on this situation and wondering if he will marry the Wild and extend his contract, then they're "bringing up his history" and wondering if he will opt to join the Devils with his two brothers.

The Wild? They aren't even listening. They're just piling up the wins and giving Hughes a refreshing respite from the constant noise. It just might work.

Nikita Kucherov and the Tampa Bay Lightning

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Song: Bejeweled

Puttin' someone first only works when you're in their top five.

Of all the trade request drama to emerge this season, Nikita Kucherov's trade request from the Lightning was the most baffling on the surface.

He's not looking for a tax break; the team is in a playoff spot, and Kucherov wasn't part of that Team USA band of brothers at the forefront of most of these requests.

So, what gives?

According to him, there's been a lack of communication from management about his looming contract extension.

"Over the last four months, there have only been two conversations and [GM] Julien [BriseBois] made it clear I'm free to walk on July 1," he said. "It was never about the money for me. It was more poor communication and respect."

Reigning Hart Trophy winner Kucherov's impact on this team can't be understated, and if true, the Lightning will regret putting his contract extension talks in the basement.

Zach Werenski and the Columbus Blue Jackets

Song: You're Losing Me

I'm getting tired even for a phoenix/Always risin' from the ashes.

Are the Blue Jackets losing Zach Werenski? He has remained with the team this season after trade discussions and rejected a move to the Dallas Stars in the offseason, but what's next?

Those trade discussions and proposals didn't happen in a vacuum—they happened after discussions in which Werenski informed the team that, beyond his contract ending at the end of the 2027-28 season, he "wasn't sure of his future" in Columbus.

He probably intended to prepare the Blue Jackets for a future without him years down the line, but he'd just come off a career season, a Norris Trophy, and an Olympic win. Of course, they were going to try to scour the trade market and see what they could get when his stock was peaking if he wasn't intending to sign a long-term extension.

The Blue Jackets are in the midst of another lost season as Werenski leads the team in assists and time on ice, and he's clearly tired of going to war for this team and rising like a phoenix to no avail.

Connor Hellebuyck and the Winnipeg Jets

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Song: My Tears Ricochet

I didn't have it in myself to go with grace/'Cause when I'd fight, you used to tell me I was brave.

You might just want to listen to the entire track, as it feels eerily reminiscent of Hellebuyck's departure from Winnipeg, especially upon his return Tuesday.

There's been much ado about the netminder not taking the ice on his first trip to Winnipeg as a Devil. It's justified: He spent 11 years with the Jets, putting up some of the best goaltending seasons in NHL history.

The abrupt nature of his trade request and his decision to sit out training camp soured and shattered a decades-long relationship with Jets fans. I'm sure he would agree that he didn't exactly go with grace.

Still, Hellebuyck is probably thinking: "Hey, if I'm dead to you, why the heck are you attending this game (or this wake) in the first place?" He did so much to try to bring a Cup to Winnipeg through all these years, but the combination of the lack of a true Cup-caliber full team around him, and some tough games from him when it counted, amounted to nothing but bitterness all around now that all is said and done.

Clearly, Hellebuyck didn't have it in himself to go with grace and suit up for his first game back. And as much as Jets fans are justifiably aiming for his heart and going for blood, it's all because they still miss him in their bones.