Sun sets on Hellebuyck era

Now that the Connor Hellebuyck era of the Jets has finally concluded, what impact will the departure have on the netminder’s legacy?

Well, it’s a complex answer and one that could change with the benefit of time and a side order of sober second thought.

Given how raw things are right now and how things quickly went sideways — with the franchise goalie essentially forcing his way out of town with his trade request back in April — many members of the Winnipeg Jets fan base quickly found themselves at the “good riddance” stage of the grieving process.

This wasn’t how this story was supposed to end and there’s no doubt some feelings have been hurt along the way.

“Well, one thing we can never forget is, again, he was a big part of our family — and we accomplished some pretty good things,” said Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff on Friday. “Those memories are going to be the same.”

Just over three years ago, on Oct. 9 of 2023, Hellebuyck signed a contract that by his own words was supposed to make him a lifetime Jet and a one-organization player.

That day, which included a matching seven-year, US$59.5 million extension for fellow franchise pillar Mark Scheifele, was widely celebrated both locally and in wider NHL circles. It was a testament to the club to retain a couple of homegrown players and to avoid shipping them out of town in a trade — which seemed like a more likely outcome for a good chunk of that prior off-season.

Hellebuyck’s goaltending ability only added to the aura around him, since the 1.0 version of the Jets often lacked the Vezina-calibre of their netminders.

His regular-season results were downright spectacular and that’s certainly a big part of the aforementioned legacy.

On three separate occasions, he was awarded the Vezina as the top goalie in the league and he earned a pair of Jennings trophies as the Jets allowed the fewest goals in the NHL in consecutive seasons.

And, during the 2024-25 campaign, Hellebuyck captured the Hart Trophy as the league’s Most Valuable Player.

He was constantly referred to as the backbone of the team — a title he took great pride in.

That portion of the resumé is impeccable paired with 625 games played (including 615 starts), a record of 345-208-55 overall, 45 shutouts, a 2.58 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage.

That he achieved those lofty heights as someone chosen in the fifth round (130th overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft only added to his somewhat unlikely story.

“We took a chance on some gangly guy out of Odessa (of the North American Hockey League),” Cheveldayoff said. “But he’s earned his way along the way. As an organization, we’re proud of what we had accomplished, we wish we could have pushed it over the top.”

On that front, Hellebuyck doesn’t need to shoulder the brunt of the blame, but he does need to be accountable for a portion of the Jets’ inability to accomplish the ultimate goal.

Numbers don’t always tell the whole story, and there were obviously times when the players in front of him didn’t hold up their end of the bargain, Hellebuyck had moments when he simply didn’t measure up to the standards he set with his elite regular-season play.

Yes, there was a strong run to the Western Conference final in 2018 during what was just his second season as the full-time starter. That run included defeating the Nashville Predators on the road in Game 7 of the second round before running into a sizzling-hot Marc-André Fleury.

Then in 2021, Hellebuyck outduelled Mike Smith in the playoffs, backstopping the team to a sweep of the Edmonton Oilers before Carey Price got the upper hand in the next round — though that had very little to do with Hellebuyck not being up to par.

Those final playoff numbers with the Jets will be viewed as rather pedestrian: a 24-34 record in 58 starts with a 3.08 goals-against average and .903 save percentage, with seven shutouts (including two against the Dallas Stars in the second round of 2025).

Hellebuyck was supported by the hometown fans throughout the bumps in the road, including frequent chants of “M-V-P” in the memorable opening-round series with the St. Louis Blues — despite being pulled in all three road games in that matchup.

In moving over to the New Jersey Devils, Hellebuyck figures to have another opportunity to rewrite his playoff narrative, though that’s a topic for another day.

And to hear Hellebuyck explain it in the moments after he led Team USA to the gold medal at the 2026 winter Olympics, he showed that he was able to shine on the big stage.

As it turns out, Jets Nation could have a chance to see Hellebuyck in a few weeks when the Devils come to Canada Life Centre for their lone visit of the regular season on Nov. 10.

Will there be a visceral reaction like the Ottawa Senators fans had for Brady Tkachuk when he returned to the nation’s capital on Wednesday?

Only time will tell and Cheveldayoff wasn’t ready to offer a prediction when asked about it.

“I know there’s going to be different levels of things and emotions when that comes,” he said. “Far be it from me to lecture any particular fan. At the end of the day, I know it’s an emotional thing, but again, we all should appreciate what he has accomplished.”

It would be something if another goalie comes to the Jets and provides this level of goaltending for more than a decade as Hellebuyck has already put together a career that should land him in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

And while there may come a time when Jets fans come around to celebrate those achievements and give him a proper salute, next month may be too soon for most to come to grips about the grander scheme of things.

It shouldn’t be long before Hellebuyck tells his version of the story of how things went sideways so quickly and it will be interesting to see if any of that changes the tenor of the discussions around him.

Hellebuyck wasn’t ready to do so on Friday afternoon, though he did respond to a text message with a brief note of appreciation for the place he was departing.

“I’ve enjoyed my time in Winnipeg very much,” Hellebuyck wrote.

winnipegfreepress.com/kenwiebe