Brossoit won’t get his back up over being backup

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This article was published 05/10/2020 (1802 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

At first blush, it doesn’t seem like the kind of move one makes to advance their own cause. Connor Hellebuyck is cemented as the No. 1 goaltender for the Winnipeg Jets, was just awarded the Vezina Trophy as tops in his profession, and is a workhorse who would play every game if given the choice.

Why then, Laurent Brossoit, sign up for a third straight season of being his rarely used understudy?

“My first thought, coming back to Winnipeg, obviously you’re playing behind the best goalie in the world. And that could feel like some of your opportunity could get lost that way,” Brossoit, 27, said on Monday during a Zoom call.

“But I think I will have a little bit more opportunity to show what I can do, and to be able to do that in familiar territory behind Connor and working together and getting some more consistent starts, I’m really looking forward to that.”

With the 2020-21 NHL season starting no earlier than December, there is talk of a much more condensed schedule than usual. That could mean plenty of opportunity for backups such as Brossoit. In the end, it was a chance to continue a partnership with a good friend who shares the same agent (Steinbach’s Ray Petkau) and off-season trainer (Adam Francilia).

“That familiarity goes a long way. I think having that trust from the coaching staff and the players and the training staff and everyone involved… feeling that over a long period of time goes a long way. A lot of the game is mental and to be in a spot, an environment, that’s super healthy and you feel good in, it goes a long way and I’m excited to be able to do that again,” said Brossoit.

“Obviously, a hell of a year for Connor and being able to see what it takes to win a Vezina, not only in games, but being able to watch his work ethic off the ice, on the ice, his attention to detail. Being able to pick his brain and bounce things back and forth has been a huge learning curve for me and hopefully for him as well. I hope to be able to continue where we left off.”

Brossoit’s numbers last year were mediocre, with a 3.28 goals-against-average and .895 save-percentage in 19 appearances. But those are somewhat skewed by a small sample size and a few tough outings, usually when playing the second night of a back-to-back in front of a made-over defence and team that struggled to find consistency.

In his last four starts, from late January until the pause in mid-March, Brossoit posted a 2.00 GAA and .932 SP.

“I was getting back to that level of play consistently in the second half and really figuring out what it was in that first season in Winnipeg that made me tick,” said Brossoit.

“I think even being able to narrow it down to a few simple things that maybe got away from me was the biggest step forward for me. If you know what you should be expecting of yourself in a very specific way, then it’s easier to replicate. I think we found that and it’s something I’m continuing day in, day out, pre-bubble, post-bubble. Working on just those habits and getting them engrained to a subconscious level. I’m really looking forward to the season.”

The goalie market is expected to be active in free agency this year, but Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said bringing Brossoit back on a one-year, US$1.5-million deal made sense on several fronts. 

“Obviously, LB’s a great person and we think he’s a goalie that still hasn’t hit his ceiling in respect to getting better. He works extremely hard, he’s a great teammate and for us, with the cap and the cost-effectiveness of that tandem, we felt, was good,” said Cheveldayoff.

“We’re excited that LB has decided to stick with us as opposed to exploring what other options are out there. We do believe it’s a good fit and we do believe that LB has a higher ceiling yet and look forward to him achieving that with us.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg