Connor Hellebuyck is Making the Winnipeg Jets Contenders
The Winnipeg Jets have had scoring before, but they might have the netminder the franchise has been searching for since the Atlanta Thrashers were born.
Being third in the league in scoring is nice, but the Jets wouldn’t be a point behind in the Central Division without the play of their 24 year old goalie, Connor Hellebuyck. From Kari Lehtonen to Ondrej Pavelec to Michael Hutchinson, the Thrashers/Jets haven’t ever quite had someone take the reigns for a long run. They’re hoping Hellebuyck can be that guy, and he hasn’t disappointed thus far.
Hellebuyck boasts a solid .920 save percentage, but is even more impressive at .927 during 5-on-5. That’s the seventh best among starting goalies (min 1000 minutes). The Jets keep a solid defensive core, but with injuries to Dustin Byfuglien and Tobias Enstrom, things haven’t been very tight around here. Thankfully, they’ve been able to count on Hellebuyck.
Additional stats such as adjusted save percentage (.56 below average) and those made on higher difficulty shots haven’t favored Hellebuyck as much. He has been well acquitted in his performance thus far anyway. Can he keep it up over the second half of the season? Well, the Winnipeg Jets need him to if they are to continue chasing a division title.
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Sure, Connor Hellebuyck has been good, but can we believe in continued success, or is he riding a hot start like Michael Hutchinson once did?
The fifth rounder comes with a bit more prospect pedigree than one would expect from a fifth round pick. But he comes with considerably less than former second rounder Pavelec and former second overall pick Lehtonen. His advantage in the even strength, often considered a true test of a goalie, give fans hope. Staying strong in the absence of some defenders, and Steve Mason’s skill, has been another beacon of hope.
If Hellebuyck can keep this up for a full season, there’s no reason to doubt him. Fans will be excited to see him in the playoffs, to try and Matt Murray these Jets. Can he be the one to finally bring Lord Stanley’s Mug back to Canada for the first time since ’93?