Winnipeg Jets 2023-24 Report Cards: Connor Helleick – Hockey Writers –

His 33.1 goals-against-expectation (GSAx) was the best in the league; Thatcher Demko is 10 more than second-place goaltender with a GSAx of 22.1. His 5.52 wins-above-replacement (WAR) — a metric that uses a single number to represent an individual player's value (in wins) as opposed to a “replacement-rate” player — was also best in the league. Demko, who finished second, had a 3.69 WAR.

Hellebuyck was also named an NHL All-Star for the fourth time in his career and played in his 500th career NHL game on March 30 against the Ottawa Senators.

The Jets' promise to play well without the puck made life a little easier on some nights than in previous seasons, and their solid structure combined with their “big and boring” style of play allowed them to go more than 34 games without giving up. more than three goals between November and the end of January. However, on other nights — more often in the latter half of the season — they leaned heavily on him to win.

He had a 35-save game against the New York Islanders on January 16, a 35-save game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on February 10, a 39-save game against the New York Rangers on March 19 and a season-high 45 saves. On April 9 against the Nashville Predators — all the Jets won — he repeatedly dragged his team kicking and screaming to victory.

Hellebuyck, like the rest of the Jets, had a bad playoff run

Entering the first-round series against the Avalanche, the Jets' biggest advantage appears to be in goal, given Georgiev's struggles all season. This advantage on paper never materialized on the ice; The Jets' defense was decimated by the Avalanche's high-octane offense, and Hellebuyck saw how bad their fortunes could be when the players in front of them failed to bail them out.

Hellebuyck looked shaky from the start and couldn't make big saves in key moments that often turn the tide of momentum in short series. He gave up 19 goals in the first four games — the most in any four-game stretch of his entire nine-season career — and finished with 24 goals against, an ugly 5.23 GAA, an .870 SV% and a negative 5.0 GSAx. That negative 5.0 GSAx number is the clearest indication of his struggles.

Through the series, the discourse about him was divided into two camps: one considered him completely guilty, the other considered him completely innocent for the past pucks.

The truth is one of two things: The defense in front of him didn't do him any favors, allowing more dangerous chances and expected goals than in the regular season, but Hellebuyck wasn't much either. at best. Even his biggest apologists have to admit he's been underwhelming under the brightest lights, and his performance in the last playoff series is a concern — he's allowed three goals in nine straight playoff games.

Related: Jets hit by avalanche in Game 5: What happened?

Hellebuyck got some interesting answers to questions about his game and process during his late-season media availability.

“I played the best hockey of my career, I really did. Not only was I playing my best hockey, but I was in a zone where you don't think, you're just playing,” he said. “That's what you're looking for. This is a dangerous thing in sports. Not being able to keep four goals off the board is heartbreaking. It's really heartbreaking.”

If the Jets want to win, they need to win with Hellebuyck

Helleick, who once aimed to leave the Jets as an unrestricted free agent, instead put pen to paper to make him a potential Jet for life. He wants a Stanley Cup more than anything else, and he's a GM and coach's dream, and despite an early exit against the Avalanche, the team's draft window is still wide open.

Hellebuyck should have at least a few shots on his new contract to raise Lord Stanley's mug, and the Jets have the luxury of knowing they have one of the league's best goaltenders until 2031.

Despite the poor playoff performance, which isn't his fault, but something he needs to overcome if the Jets want to go deep in the postseason in the future, his big body of work still warrants a high price.

Final grade: A