Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck finds himself with mixed feelings when reflecting on his past season.
Hellebuyck delivered an exceptional statistical season for the Jets, instrumental in guiding his team to the top of the NHL regular-season standings and securing the franchise`s first Presidents` Trophy.
His stellar play over the 82-game schedule garnered him the Hart Trophy as the league`s MVP—making him the first goaltender since Carey Price in 2014-15 to win the award—along with his third Vezina Trophy.
During the regular season, he showcased outstanding form with a 47-12-3 record, a .925 save percentage, and a 2.00 goals-against average.
Another significant achievement for Hellebuyck, a native of Commerce, Mich., was reaching the final of the 4 Nations Face-Off with the United States, as the league gears up for its return to the Olympics at the 2026 Games.
However, the Stanley Cup playoffs presented a different narrative.
Hellebuyck and the Jets advanced to the second round, requiring dramatic late-game heroics to overcome the St. Louis Blues in a seven-game series before ultimately falling to the Dallas Stars in six games. Throughout 13 post-season matchups, he conceded a total of 39 goals—including 19 goals across Games 3 to 6 against St. Louis—resulting in a modest .866 save percentage and a 3.08 GAA.
“Our team displayed consistent performance and confidence throughout the regular season,” the 32-year-old commented this week during the NHL/NHLPA player media tour in Las Vegas. “Then the playoffs began… things didn`t unfold perfectly for me, and I was dealing with some issues. You push through it, and you learn from it.”
“Unless you win the Cup, it`s considered a failure,” he stated.
Hellebuyck, who did record two shutouts in the Dallas series, including a crucial Game 5 victory with Winnipeg facing elimination, meticulously reviewed his game in preparation for the post-season. This included implementing some initial “adjustments” before reverting to the fundamental techniques he had refined over the past decade.
“I wasn`t comfortable with the changes I made to my game,” the 130th pick in the 2012 NHL draft explained. “I felt like I was straying from what defines my unique style.”
Nonetheless, Hellebuyck opts to consider his complete body of work from last spring, marking his third consecutive playoffs with a save percentage below .890.
“I acknowledge there were a few games where I allowed too many goals,” he admitted. “But if we disregard those isolated instances, I believe I had a strong playoff run. It`s just that those significant losses tend to overshadow everything else.”
Hellebuyck, who also claimed the Vezina Trophy in 2019-20 and 2023-24, still drew considerable positives as the Jets prepare for their second season under Head Coach Scott Arniel.
“We`ve seen immense improvement and much greater consistency in our team`s play,” he noted. “Witnessing that makes me genuinely excited. Personally, I`m an integral part of that, contributing to the consistency within our established system.”
The team`s roster will now feature center Jonathan Toews, a three-time Stanley Cup champion, who signed with his hometown club after a two-season hiatus due to long COVID symptoms and chronic immune response syndrome.
“I`m eagerly anticipating this journey with him,” Hellebuyck remarked. “He brings immense value to our team with his vast veteran experience. I`m keen to observe his performance after such an extended break and hearing about his dedication to returning.”
“He will integrate seamlessly into our team dynamic,” Hellebuyck added.
A team, Hellebuyck understands, still has unfinished business.
“The extent of your progress doesn`t matter,” he asserted. “You`re perpetually seeking the next step forward, and that`s precisely where we stand now.”
Making Strides in Ottawa
Last spring, the Ottawa Senators reached the playoffs for the first time since 2017, though their run ended with a six-game defeat to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Goaltender Linus Ullmark, acquired from the Boston Bruins in a June 2024 trade, stated that expectations are considerably high in the nation`s capital.
“It comes down to recognizing our capability to replicate that success,” said the 2022-23 Vezina winner. “But it also requires the humility to understand that it won`t happen automatically.”
Calgary`s Wolf Keeps Pushing
Calgary Flames netminder Dustin Wolf, who recently signed a seven-year, US$52.5-million contract extension, was not invited to the U.S. Olympic orientation camp last month.
Being overlooked is a familiar experience for the six-foot, 166-pound goaltender from Gilroy, Calif.
“It only fuels my motivation,” said Wolf, a seventh-round pick in the 2019 draft, largely underestimated due to his size. “I`ve been frequently underestimated throughout my career.”
“You constantly strive to prove others wrong,” he concluded.