The Winnipeg Jets have an advantage over most of the other non-playoff teams because they do not have many holes on their roster. The downfall of Winnipeg last season was the defense. They were one of just four teams that allowed more than three goals per game last season, with Dallas, Arizona, and Colorado doing worse. The Stars are hoping the addition of Ben Bishop will improve their defense, and the Coyotes traded for Antti Raanta after trading Mike Smith to the Flames.
The Jets also added a goalie, signing Steve Mason to a two-year deal, but the ideal scenario would be for Connor Hellebuyck to improve from a mediocre 2016-2017. After signing a one-year, $2.25 million deal in July, it looks like Hellebuyck is headed for a big season, one that could potentially affect his future in Winnipeg.
In the Michigan native’s defense, he has only played one full season and 82 games in the NHL, so it would be unfair to put this kind of pressure on a 24-year-old who just became familiar to being a full-time starter. His career GAA of 2.71 and record of 39-30-5 is also not too bad, but the recent contract and subsequent signing of fringe starter Mason, along with waiting prospect Eric Comrie, shows that the Jets are not ready to commit to their fifth-round pick from 2012.
There should be a clearer direction in May 2018.
Hellebuyck showed glimpses of greatness during the season series against the Chicago Blackhawks, which faced their northernmost division rivals five times before the All-Star break. The young goaltender started all five games in the series, allowing just eight goals, and never more than three in a game, and finished 4-1-0 against the eventual Central Division champions.
In fact, Hellebuyck was impressive against the entire Central Division, finishing with a 12-3-1 mark and allowing just 2.09 goals per game. Three of his four shutouts were against division foes, and Dallas could only get five of their 105 shots past Hellebuyck in three games despite not being shutout.
If those numbers against division rivals can be maintained, then Hellebuyck is incredibly valuable in the long run. His mediocre numbers against the other divisions, especially that GAA of 3.90 against the Metropolitan Division last season, are bound to decrease with more experience, and Hellebuyck could break out as one of the more reliable goaltenders in the Western Confernece.
Mason’s presence is also of importance here. Michael Hutchinson is a good, but not great, backup for Winnipeg, and Ondrej Pavelec struggled enough to be the odd man out in the goaltender rotation. Adding Mason will not only take pressure off of Hellebuyck’s workload, but it should also give him an added confidence sharing more time with another experienced starter.
This season will determine where the Jets go with the goalie position. Goalie prospect Eric Comrie is lurking in the AHL and even had an appearance in the NHL in April, and an improved season combined with a bad start from Hellebuyck could warrant Comrie’s addition to the NHL roster. Before giving Comrie a look, however, Hellebuyck, who has already proven to be a steal in the 2013 draft, has a chance to lock up the starting spot in the near future, and this is the time to shine.