‘To be the best’

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 05/01/2024 (641 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ANAHEIM — Connor Hellebuyck was seated at dinner with his father on Wednesday night when he found out he’d been chosen to participate in the NHL All-Star festivities next month in Toronto.

It’s the fourth time in nine NHL seasons the Winnipeg Jets goalie has been honoured among his peers and he’ll make his way to the centre of the hockey universe after spending time with his family during the player break.

With the NHL bringing back the draft for the skills competition, it’s too early to say if Hellebuyck is going to need to spend any time lobbying for when he is selected.

“It will be fun. I remember the last draft that went on, (Alex) Ovechkin was begging not to get picked because he wanted the car,” said Hellebuyck, who spoke with the Free Press before the Jets faced the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on Friday night. “This will be my first time to be part of those moments that someone might remember. Anytime you get honoured like that and can be relaxed and enjoy what we’ve earned. Moments like that are huge in our world.

“We’ll see what happens when we get there and we’ll see what they’re offering for last place.”

What Hellebuyck has been offering this season is quality goaltending and a reminder to the rest of the league that remains among the upper crust at his position.

“Best goalie in the world,” Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi said matter-of-factly. “That’s how I’d describe him.”

That’s how many would describe Hellebuyck, who has put together an incredible first half for a Jets team battling for top spot in the Central Division and remains among the best teams in the NHL.

Hellebuyck is in the midst of an incredible stretch that includes a record of 19-6-3, a 2.28 goals-against average and .921 save percentage.

“What more can you say about Helly? His resume speaks for itself,” said Jets defenceman Brenden Dillon. “We’re so lucky to have him.”

Hellebuyck has even worked his way into the Hart Trophy chatter, as many pundits begin to toss out opinions on midseason awards.

“Well, it’s nice. It’s an honour and I’ve always felt that I’m going to do everything to be part of those conversations,” said Hellebuyck, who is also in the thick of the Vezina conversations with Thatcher Demko of the Vancouver Canucks. “But at this point of my career, I’ve said it multiple times that I just want The Cup. Stats don’t really matter to me, as long as we’re winning.

“That being said, when you’re winning, the stats come. With team success comes individual success. I’ve been very lucky and thankful that the guys have been playing so well in front of me and making my life easy. I’m getting the fruits of their labour right now.”

There’s been no shortage of winning for the Jets and in a season where several contenders — and underachievers — have serious question marks between the pipes, Hellebuyck provides a level of stability that has been reassuring for an organization that rewarded him with a seven-year contract extension that kicks in next season.

“In the early stages, it was a bit of an adjustment now looking at my career,” said Hellebuyck. “The whole time I was caring about what can I do to make this team the best and now I’m part of the team for another seven years, so what can I do to help this team win, not as an individual but as a veteran guy. And I’m not just talking about on-ice, I’m talking about off-ice stuff. How can I help and chip in? It’s becoming more of a voice in the locker room for the future.

“I’m committed here for a while and everyone knows that.”

For all the talk about skaters who spend an entire career with one organization, whether it be Steve Yzerman or Joe Sakic, there aren’t as many goalies that have been part of those conversations.

When that was brought to Hellebuyck’s attention, about how he could eventually be the puckstopper people think of immediately in that regard, it gave him pause.

“I have never really thought about it that way,” said Hellebuyck. “I know your value is always best with your first team. Everything you built, they know your ins and outs and they know what you’re really worth.”

At this point in the conversation, Hellebuyck reiterated how happy he was to be able to remain with the organization that originally chose him in the fifth round of the 2012 NHL Draft when he was still a member of the Odessa Jackalopes of the NAHL.

“I’ve always known that being on one team is really good from a personal standpoint and the fan base,” said Hellebuyck. “Growing somewhere and settling in somewhere is always better. Better for your family and better for yourself. But I haven’t really thought about the long-term effects of being on a singular team. I don’t really know what else is out there because I’ve been on only one team and I’m happy — and that’s all that really matters.”

The uncertainty of the offseason, when there was talk about the potential for Hellebuyck to be on the move, has been replaced by talk of legacy and what could be accomplished during his extended tenure here.

“Definitely. There’s always that loyalty, but sometimes the business side gets in the way,” said Hellebuck. “They’ve got to look out for themselves too, so if it wasn’t so mutual, they might be on the other end thinking differently.

“At the end of the day, they were loyal to me and it was nice to be able to show my loyalty to them.”

These days, Hellebuyck’s value has been compared by some to that of a franchise quarterback in the NFL who is chasing championship rings.

When an organization has someone of that calibre, it eliminates one of the most important items on the check list of priorities.

“That brings a smile on my face because that’s what my whole goal for my entire life has been — to be the best,” said Hellebuyck. “Just being able to chisel away at that every year and show my consistency. If you set a really hard to achieve goal, slowly chipping away at it is really nice to see.

“It’s nice to see that what I’ve been doing and what I think is right is actually turning out to be right.”

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

X: @WiebesWorld