Hellebuyck’s milestone cements his incredible talent Michigan product is the 30th goalie in NHL history to reach 500 games played, 300 wins and 40-plus shutouts Dump & Chase
By: Ken Wiebe and Mike McIntyre Posted: 5:30 PM CST Friday, Jan. 10, 2025

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/01/2025 (270 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Whether you’re looking at the numbers or the accomplishments, even some of the people that have been around Connor Hellebuyck from the beginning of this ride with the Winnipeg Jets are left shaking their heads in amazement.

So on an evening where Hellebuyck was honoured in a pre-game ceremony by the organization he’s spent his entire career with — including the presentation of a golden stick prior to the Jets hosting the Los Angeles Kings — it only made sense to get their reaction to the Michigan product becoming the 30th goalie in NHL history to reach 500 games played, 300 wins and 40-plus shutouts.

“When you look at what he’s accomplished, what do you say?” Jets goalie coach Wade Flaherty asked rhetorically in a recent interview. “At the end of the day, I’m seeing all of the stuff come up on TV and some of the names that are on these lists, it’s like ‘wow.’”

Wow is an apt way to describe what the 31 year old has done to date, while also recognizing just how much more could be on the horizon.

“It’s pretty special. Especially for me, to be here through the whole thing,” said Flaherty, who has been the Jets’ goalie coach since the franchise returned to Winnipeg in 2011. “Seeing it night after night. To see Helly grow as a goalie, but more importantly, as a person and as an individual. To see that over the years is special.”

Special is a great way to describe Hellebuyck’s journey, which includes countless examples of having to overcome adversity before hitting his stride.

Whether that was being passed over in the USHL Draft, taking a tryout with the Odessa Jackalopes of the NAHL or beginning as the backup before taking over the starting job in college, Hellebuyck’s mentality has helped him reach extraordinary heights.

Chosen in the fifth round of the 2012 NHL Draft, Hellebuyck has transformed from a late-round gamble to an absolute steal who has grown into a foundational pillar for the Jets’ franchise.

That Hellebuyck has been able to build his resumé the way that he has over time is a testament to his intrinsic desire to improve, coupled with his mechanics and that’s all been tied together with an incredibly high level of belief.

“His consistency comes from his awareness of the situations and his management of the game,” said Flaherty.

“His competitive nature is what drives his consistency. He wants to get better. When he leaves the ice after practice, he has to feel like he’s accomplished something and those are the rules that we have. When you come off the ice, you’re feeling like you’re a better goalie than when you stepped on the ice.

“His reads are amazing. When you watch him, he’s scanning the ice. If you wrap it up in a sentence, it’s the management of his game.”

At a time in the NHL when tandems and job-sharing situations are becoming more and more prevalent, Hellebuyck is an outlier. He’s someone that thrives on playing a high volume of games and the rhythm that comes with that.

“He’s a true, true No. 1,” said Jets backup goalie Eric Comrie. “He will not play less than 60 games a year. That’s his thing. He needs to play that many games.

“He plays an easy game. He could play all 82 games if he wanted to. Honestly, I truly believe that he could. Because he’s so efficient in his game and makes the game so simple.”

The scary thing for opponents is that Hellebuyck isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. In fact, he might still be in the early portion of his prime — even with two Vezina Trophies already in his collection.

“I feel like he can do it forever, too,” said Comrie. ““You see the work every single day. You see what he does, you see the way that he processes the game, how he watches his video, how he analyzes it.

“His game is constantly growing. No matter what, it’s constantly getting better and better.”

“His game is constantly growing. No matter what, it’s constantly getting better and better.”–Eric Comrie

Comrie, who was chosen in the second round of the 2013 NHL Draft, has watched the evolution of Hellebuyck’s game over the years, citing the vast improvement in both his skating and puck handling as two prime examples.

Thanks in part to his preparation, Hellebuyck seems to have a superpower that is rare — even among the best of the best at his position.

“This is the biggest single compliment you can give a guy, on every single goal, it looks like he had a chance to stop it,” said Comrie.

“With a lot of guys, you think ‘he just had no chance.’ But on every single goal, it looks like (Hellebuyck) has a chance because he’s always in the right position and he’s always reading the play correctly. That is the most amazing thing because he’s always giving himself the edge.”

By giving himself the edge, Hellebuyck often gives his team an edge at one of the most important positions on the ice.

He’s well on his way to becoming one of — if not THE best — at his position to ever do it, which is also part of why the love affair between the marquee masked man and this community is only going to grow over the span of the seven-year contract extension he signed in October of 2023.

“He’s just a real cerebral goaltender. I guess you could say he’s always asking questions. He’s just a very curious mind of how to get better,” said Jets forward Kyle Connor.

“And it’s obviously helped his game tremendously. It seems like he’s getting better every single year. And you know, the hunger is there too. You can tell he wants to be great, and he wants to win a Stanley Cup.”

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Around the glass

The NHL is putting together a quarter-century team (from 2000 to the present) for all its clubs this season based on voting from media members, retired players and executives in each market.

Friday was the day the 2.0 Jets/Atlanta Thrashers roster was revealed, with five current players making the cut.

FIRST TEAM:

• F Ilya Kovalchuk
• F Blake Wheeler
• F Mark Scheifele
• D Dustin Byfuglien
• D Josh Morrissey
• G Connor Hellebuyck

SECOND TEAM:

• F Bryan Little
• F Kyle Connor
• F Nikolaj Ehlers
• D Toby Enstrom
• D Jacob Trouba
• G Ondrej Pavelec

Both Ken and Mike had 11 of the 12 players on their respective ballots. Ken ultimately chose Neal Pionk over Trouba as his fourth and final defenceman, while Mike had Vyacheslav Kozlov edging out Ehlers as his sixth and final forward. Other strong considerations included Marian Hossa, Patrik Laine and Adam Lowry up front and Kari Lehtonen and Laurent Brossoit in goal.

Once all franchises’ teams are announced a league-wide vote will take place to determine the NHL Quarter-Century Team. Voting will take place Feb. 12-26 on NHL.com and X, with results to be announced at a later date.

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A tip of the Dump & Chase cap to local product Denton Mateychuk, who scored his first NHL goal on Thursday night in a 6-2 Columbus Blue Jackets victory over the Seattle Kraken.

The 20-year-old defenceman from Dominion City, who was selected 12th-overall in the 2022 draft, also picked up his second big-league assist as he played in his eighth game since being called up from the AHL, with the first happening on New Year’s Eve.

Mateychuk also got to play against his second cousin, Owen Pickering of St. Adolphe, on Tuesday night in a 4-3 shootout win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Pickering, selected 21st-overall in the same year as Mateychuk, is up to 18 NHL games as a rookie and recorded his first goal and assist earlier this season.

Clearly, hockey is in this talented family’s blood. Mateychuk’s 14-year-old brother, Crosby, is currently tearing it up with the Eastman AAA U15 Selects and is viewed as a top-10 pick for the upcoming WHL Prospects Draft.

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Brandon product Trent Miner made his first NHL start — and second NHL appearance — in goal for the Colorado Avalanche against the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night at the United Center.

Although the Avalanche lost 3-1, Miner finished with 17 saves.

Miner, 23, was chosen in the seventh round of the 2019 NHL Draft and is into his fourth professional season

Speaking of Avalanche goalies, the deal to acquire Mackenzie Blackwood has paid immediate dividends for general manager Chris MacFarland and company.

In 10 appearances during the past month, Blackwood has allowed only 15 goals, is sporting a record of 8-1-1, a .940 save percentage and 1.61 goals-against average.

Saturday’s game between the Jets and Avalanche should be a doozy — with Hellebuyck and Blackwood going head-to-head in a marquee matchup of teams battling for top spot in the Central Division standings.

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @wiebesworld

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @mikemcintyrewpg