‘I’m just here to win a Cup’ No.1 goalie enthusiastic about Jets’ chances, vague about future beyond this season By: Mike McIntyre Posted: 5:12 PM CDT Thursday, Sep. 21, 2023

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This article was published 21/09/2023 (1049 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Connor Hellebuyck might — as dramatic as it sounds — hold the fate of the Winnipeg Jets in his hands.

A thumbs-up to contract extension means the hockey club will continue to build around the three-time Vezina Trophy finalist with the goal of being a perennial contender as long as he remains in the fold.

A thumbs-down to sticking around beyond this current season and all bets are off, with the franchise facing a potential crisis in the crease that could take years to recover from.

So, which way is Winnipeg’s most important player, an unrestricted free agent as of July 1, 2024, planning to point?

“I’ve got an open mind. That’s about as clear as I can be, is I have an open mind to everything,” Hellebuyck said Thursday as he spoke with media following the first on-ice sessions of training camp.

Clear as mud, right?

“Rumours are crazy. You can’t believe everything you read,” Hellebuyck continued, perhaps not realizing that his own vagueness on the hot-button topic was providing ample grist for the mill.

“That being said I know you can break down my way and make a fun article based on what’s going on in this locker room, but at the end of the day I’m just here to win a Cup. And we have a good team and I do believe that.”

There’s no question reaching Lord Stanley’s summit is Priority No. 1 for Hellebuyck. No individual accolades even come close at this point in his career.

“I’m going to look at anywhere that I think can win a Cup,” he said.

In that sense, he doesn’t care whether that happens in Winnipeg or on the moon. Now 30, he’s repeatedly stated he believes the clock is ticking and the urgency is rising.

“At the end of the day I’m just here to win a Cup. And we have a good team and I do believe that.”–Connor Hellebuyck

Just not, apparently, when it comes to settling on whose sweater he’ll be wearing next season.

“I’m going to be patient,” said Hellebuyck, who is entering the final year of his six-year US$37 million deal he inked in 2018 (US$6.166 million per season). “So we’ll see how everything unfolds in the upcoming future, but I’m here, I’m a Jet, and I’m just going to try to win a Cup with this team.”

General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said Wednesday he’s also comfortable playing the waiting game, suggesting he had a good conversation last week with Hellebuyck and that the lines of communication remain wide open.

Hellebuyck was specifically asked if a new contract offer is currently on the table.

“I don’t want to answer that question,” said the Michigan native.

“I think that’s a little too personal for me to answer. I think that’s a better question for Chevy or even give my agent a call, I’m sure he will be happy to talk to you. That being said, I’m just telling you guys that I haven’t closed the door on anything.”

For the record, Hellebuyck’s agent, Ray Petkau, has declined to comment about negotiations.

If you’re into reading between the lines, it certainly sounds like Hellebuyck is taking a wait-and-see approach when it comes to the on-ice product. A strong season would perhaps go a long way to convincing him the grass is really greener in his current backyard. If things go south, then look out.

Hellebuyck, ever the optimist, believes the Jets have what it takes.

“I see a lot of guys and a lot of improvement and I just see a lot of eagerness in this room to improve as a group and really give our all,” he said.

“I want to be part of that. I want to be a part of the year I have here and that’s all I can look forward to is what I am in now, and that’s making the most out of here.”

Hellebuyck was asked how important term is on his next deal, with the suggestion that perhaps he might consider something shorter (like two to three years) with the Jets and re-evaluate his options a bit further down the road, especially with the mostly flat salary cap of recent years expected to start rising sharply.

“That’s the business side of things and I don’t love talking to you guys about the business side of things because, I mean, look at the rumours going on this summer,” he replied.

“A lot of that is just made up or taken from a rumour and making a new rumours. So I don’t want to discuss too much of that. I’m going to do what’s best for me and my family and, ultimately, what I believe in to help me win that Cup. Like I said, we’ve got time. We’ve got time and we’re going to see how everything continues to unfold.”

“I want to be a part of the year I have here and that’s all I can look forward to is what I am in now, and that’s making the most out of here.”–Connor Hellebuyck

Many may want to speculate Hellebuyck is just the latest example of an American-born player who can’t wait to get a one-way ticket out of town, citing previous examples such as Jacob Trouba and Andrew Copp. Hellebuyck, who was drafted in the fifth round in 2012 by Winnipeg, went out of his way to state how much he enjoys this market.

“I love it here. I love the fans here. I love the city. It’s very outdoorsman, and that’s who I am,” said the avid fisherman.

“That being said, I don’t want to come and say to you guys something (about his future) and then tomorrow it changes and it be different. I’m just going to leave it as I’m going to win a Cup and wherever I can win a Cup, I think is where I want to be.”

One summer development that really made Hellebuyck happy was seeing goaltender Laurent Brossoit, fresh off winning a Stanley Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights, return to Winnipeg on a one-year deal. The two are good friends, off-season training partners, share the same agent and were Jets teammates for three years (2018-21).

“We love that guy. He’s such a great goaltender. I truly believe that he’s going to push me and he’s going to be what the team definitely needs,” said Hellebuyck.

“I think he’s going to help us get over some edges and I’m really looking forward to being his partner again. I know we’ve thrived together and I would like to think that I’ve helped him thrive too. I think we’re going to push each other and it’s going to be a great relationship again.”

Hellebuyck has appeared in a whopping 130 games over the last two years. Might he see a slightly reduced workload with Brossoit as his job-share partner?

“I need whatever is going to help this team succeed. I go in there… they listen to what I have to say. I tell them what I feel gives me the best rhythm or gives me the best chance to play. But at the end of the day, I tell them, ‘Do what you think you need to do to get this team to succeed and I will adapt around you,’” said Hellebuyck.

“I know you’re going to say I’m getting older and I might need less (starts). But I feel young. I’ve got young bones and I feel great. That being said, LB is a great goaltender. If he’s in, I’m going to be his No. 1 fan.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X: @mikemcintyrewpg

Mike McIntyre
Reporter

Mike McIntyre is a sports reporter whose primary role is covering the Winnipeg Jets. After graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College in 1995, he spent two years gaining experience at the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in 1997, where he served on the crime and justice beat until 2016. Read more about Mike.

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