Connor Hellebuyck reflects on his previous season with mixed feelings.
The Winnipeg Jets` goaltender achieved impressive statistics, leading his team to claim the NHL`s regular-season top spot and their first Presidents` Trophy. Hellebuyck`s performance throughout the 82-game schedule earned him the Hart Trophy as league MVP – the first goalie to win it since Carey Price in 2014-15 – in addition to his third Vezina Trophy.
He had an outstanding regular season, posting a 47-12-3 record, a .925 save percentage, and a 2.00 goals-against average. Reaching the final of the 4 Nations Face-Off with Team USA was another notable achievement for Hellebuyck, a native of Commerce, Mich., especially as the league anticipates its return to the Olympics in 2026.
However, the Stanley Cup playoffs presented a different story. Hellebuyck and the Jets advanced to the second round, requiring last-minute heroics to defeat the St. Louis Blues in seven games before being eliminated by the Dallas Stars in six. Over 13 playoff games, he conceded a total of 39 goals – including 19 goals from Games 3 to 6 of the St. Louis series – resulting in a rather ordinary .866 save percentage and a 3.08 goals-against average.
“Our consistency was present throughout the entire year, as was our confidence,” the 32-year-old stated during the NHL/NHLPA player media tour in Las Vegas this week. “Then we entered the playoffs… it wasn`t perfect for me, but I was dealing with some issues. You fight through it, and you learn from it.” He added, “Unless you win the Cup, it feels like a failure.”
Hellebuyck, who did record two shutouts in the Dallas series, including in Game 5 when Winnipeg faced elimination, thoroughly reviewed his game prior to the postseason, attempting some “tweaks.” However, he ultimately reverted to the fundamental goaltending style he has developed over the past decade.
“I didn`t like how my game looked,” the 130th pick in the 2012 NHL draft commented on the adjustments. “I felt like I wasn`t playing my true self.” Hellebuyck, however, prefers to consider his overall performance last spring, despite it being his third consecutive playoff appearance with a save percentage below .890.
“I acknowledge there were a couple of poor games in terms of goals allowed,” he admitted. “But if we disregard those, I believe I had a strong playoff run. It`s just that those significant losses tend to make everything else appear much worse.”
Hellebuyck, who also claimed the Vezina Trophy in 2019-20 and 2023-24, still found numerous positives as the Jets prepare for their second season under head coach Scott Arniel. “You can observe a significant improvement and much greater consistency in our play,” he remarked. “Witnessing that, I was genuinely thrilled. Personally, I am a part of that, contributing to building consistency within our system.”
That system will now incorporate center and three-time Stanley Cup champion Jonathan Toews, who signed with his hometown team after missing two seasons due to symptoms of long COVID and chronic immune response syndrome. “I`m enthusiastic about the journey with him,” Hellebuyck stated. “He brings a lot to our team, a wealth of veteran experience. I`m eager to see his game after such an extended break and to hear about his journey back.” He concluded, “He`s going to integrate seamlessly with our team.”
A team that Hellebuyck believes has unfinished business. “It doesn`t matter how far you advance,” he explained. “You`re always seeking what will propel you to the next level. And that`s exactly where we stand now.”
Significant Progress in Ottawa
The Ottawa Senators reached the playoffs last spring for the first time since 2017, ultimately losing to the Toronto Maple Leafs in six games. Goaltender Linus Ullmark, acquired from the Boston Bruins in a June 2024 trade, noted that expectations are elevated in Canada`s capital.
“It boils down to knowing we have the capability to repeat that success,” remarked the 2022-23 Vezina Trophy recipient. “But also, remaining humble enough to understand it won`t be automatic.”
Relentless Drive from Dustin Wolf
Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf, who recently signed a seven-year, US$52.5-million contract extension, did not receive an invitation to the U.S. Olympic orientation camp last month. Being overlooked is not a new experience for the six-foot, 166-pound player from Gilroy, Calif.
“It simply fuels my determination,” stated Wolf, a seventh-round pick in the 2019 draft largely due to his stature. “I`ve been the one overlooked so often throughout my career. You want to prove people wrong.”
