Hellebuyck, Jets flying high

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This article was published 19/01/2024 (627 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Connor Hellebuyck is the undisputed MVP of the Winnipeg Jets this season, the Vezina Trophy front-runner and quickly gaining traction around hockey circles as a potential Hart Trophy candidate.

Yet, around here — and even in his own household — the planet’s premier puckstopper has been pushed aside recently by a most surprising personality: His own father.

“He’s gotten more famous than me,” a laughing Hellebuyck said Friday. “His head was getting too big. I had to send him home.”

Yes, Chuck Hellebuyck has become a pretty big deal in these parts, thanks to his online presence which emerged during the recent dads and mentors trip through California and Arizona. The proud papa took his followers along for the journey, documenting everything from the bus trips to the rink to the lavish food spread in the arena suites.

He then extended his stay by a few more days during the recent homestand and was, at one point, shown on the scoreboard at Canada Life Centre with the title of “international influencer” beneath him. Chants of “Chuck! Chuck”” emerged from the crowd.

“I know he enjoyed every second of it,” said Hellebuyck. “It’s definitely a lot of fun. And something he’s going to look back on and talk a lot about.”

There’s plenty to talk about these days when it comes to Hellebuyck and his teammates, who begin a three-game road trip on Saturday afternoon against the Ottawa Senators. At 29-10-4, they own the best winning percentage in the NHL.

Hellebuyck, recently selected for his fourth All-Star Game, is leading the way.

You watch him connecting with fans, as he did following Tuesday’s 4-2 victory over the New York Islanders in which he came out for his lap as one of the game’s three stars, rode his stick, mimed using it to fish and then tossed it to a lucky kid, and a natural question comes to mind: Is this the most fun he’s ever had?

“Oh, definitely,” Hellebuyck quickly replied.

“Winning is more fun than anything else in this league, especially when you’re doing it a lot. It’s a lot lighter in the room, everyone is happy, everyone knows what to expect out of each other. Once you have that accountability, it’s just a really good feeling. It’s something that’s not easy. It doesn’t come easy. But when it does, it’s smooth. Real smooth.”

“Winning is more fun than anything else in this league, especially when you’re doing it a lot.”–Connor Hellebuyck

The Jets have gone an incredible 33 games without allowing more than three goals, just two shy of the modern-day NHL record held by the 2014-15 Minnesota Wild. They’ve also gone 12 straight games giving up two or fewer, and 21 using regulation time as the benchmark (the only blemish was a 3-2 overtime loss to Montreal 13 games ago).

Not surprisingly, Hellebuyck is posting career-best numbers. Backup Laurent Brossoit, a good friend who shares the same off-season trainer and agent, is excelling as well. It’s a match made in NHL goalie heaven.

“He belongs as a starter in this league. The fact that we got him and the role that we have him in is pretty incredible,” Hellebuyck said of Brossoit.

“Not only that, but we have the same foundation, the same kind of personable bubble. When we’re talking between periods or after games and kind of analyzing things, we’re perfectly aligned. It’s really nice to have someone like that where it’s not that I’m forcing some idea and asking what he thinks of it. We’re building together and we’re working together. And that goes both ways. I think it’s so crucial for development.”

Hellebuyck is in the final year of his current contract, an absolute steal at US$6.1 million. That will increase to US$8.5 million when his seven-year extension, signed just days before the 2023-24 opener, kicks in next season. The deal, along with an identical one to top centre Mark Scheifele, has brought a sense of calm and stability to this high-flying club.

“Definitely. Our system has been a huge change. We’ve always known we have the talent. It was more about rounding out our roles. Everyone is happy with whatever role they are given. And they push for more within that role,” Hellebuyck said.

“We’ve always known we have the talent. It was more about rounding out our roles.”–Connor Hellebuyck

“They’re not scratching at everyone’s feet trying to get more and more from other people. It’s ‘I’m going to give you the best I possibly can and I’m ready for any role that I’m given.’ And when you have that, you can really just sit down and really analyze the game and not worry. There’s less stress, and less failure, really.”

The Jets have four games left prior to a week-long break. Unlike many teammates, Hellebuyck won’t be headed to some tropical island, as he’s going to represent Winnipeg at the star-studded showcase in Toronto.

Hellebuyck said it’s always an honour to rub shoulders with the best in the business, and there’s an added perk as well.

“My kid loves the whole scene and the whole skills things, so he’s going to enjoy himself a lot,” said Hellebuyck.

Given what we’ve learned lately, it’s a safe bet his father will, too.

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PRACTICE REPORT: The Jets held an hour-long skate Friday prior to boarding the charter. Scheifele, who has missed the last two games with a lower-body (believed to be groin) injury, did not participate. Nor will he be ready to face the Senators on Saturday.

“We’re going to re-evaluate him on Monday,” said head coach Rick Bowness. “So, he’s making progress with this thing. Turns out it’s longer than we originally thought, so that’s fine. That’s all part of it.”

Scheifele is travelling with the team but has not resumed skating. The Jets play in Boston on Monday, then in Toronto on Wednesday before coming back to face the Maple Leafs next Saturday — the final test before the break begins.

Scheifele remains on injured reserve, as does forward David Gustafsson who skated Friday in a regular sweater. The Jets are currently at their 23-man roster limit, so activating one or both of Scheifele and Gustafsson will require subsequent moves.

Bowness said he plans to give Brossoit one of the next four games, although he wouldn’t tip his hand as to which one.

Jets forward Vlad Namestnikov said it’s important to keep the foot on the gas pedal.

“The ultimate goal is to win the Stanley Cup. Everything else is kind of secondary. That’s the focus and there’s still a lot of games. Gotta keep focused,” he said.

“I know the guys here, everyone has the exact same goal. We believe in ourselves and the guys in this locker room. That’s our goal and we’re going to stick with it. But we gotta keep plugging away. There’s still a lot of games and we’re going to keep going.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X: @mikemcintyrewpg