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How long is Hellebuyck's leash? |
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Thoughts on Hellebuyck and his status with the Jets.
The Jets have 4 goalies who, in theory, could see time with the team this year. Of course this all depends on circumstances and variables but regardless of who is able to play the pressure is squarely on the shoulders of Connor Hellebuyck.
Hellebuyck by all accounts was Chevy’s ‘chosen one’. Yours truly was at an event a few years ago where Chevy said to the audience ‘the prospect I’m most excited about is Connor Hellebuyck’ as he expounded on the player. At that point Hellebuyck had just helped the Jets’ AHL affiliate the St. John’s IceCaps get to the Calder Cup final before losing in 6 games.
With the level of uncertainty already high with the play of Ondrej Pavelec and a series of back-up goalies never able to secede him the hopes were that Hellebuyck wound be that player- the fans and team are still waiting.
In what should have been a smooth(er) transition the expiring contract of Pavelec after last season would have allowed Hellebuyck to take over or share duties with either Hutchinson (another question mark), a different back-up or by this point Comrie. What has happened thus far is only part of the plan.
Instead of having the faith of the coaches, management, and fans Hellebuyck as an RFA signed a one-year deal avoiding arbitration. To ensure the Jets are not left searching for support the team singed Steve Mason to a two-year deal at an AAV higher than Pavelec was making. Michael Hutchinson is now the back-up on the Moose and Hellebuyck looks to restart his career as a back-up again.
While some fans think that the tandem of Mason and Hellebuyck could be in the model of a 1a or 1b, past evidence from Mason’s career suggests that might not be wise. In Mason’s time with both the Blue Jackets and Flyers he has not performed well when splitting duties. However, that’s hard to tell looking at his games played numbers season over season. Most of the basis for that observation comes from those who witnessed Mason’s time in those scenarios. The numbers, at least the one that matters most Save Percentage seem to support the anecdotal evidence when matched up.
The challenge for Hellebuyck and the Jets is how does he get the work he needs while not splitting too much time with Mason? Keep in mind Mason has never played more than 61 games in a season so at minimum Hellebuyck is likely to get 21 games played this next season, but is it enough?
Both Hellebuyck and the Jets need to learn something about his play for his next round of contract negotiations which will happen next year. Keeping his playing time low might not be favourable to the player but has he done anything this past season to earn more time?
If he is to be the clear number one goalie, and that should not be out of reach, Mason has to understand his role and hopefully that has been explained before he signed that deal. No in all fairness to Mason he’d find few teams in this league willing to sign a player at 4.1 per year to be a back up- it’s likely why he earned the exact same money as his expiring deal with Philadelphia. For Hellebuyck to step up and earn that number one spot the work he is putting in in Kelowna this summer with a new personal goalie coach has to pay off. More importantly what he is doing has to align with support from the Jets and their goalie coach Wade Flaherty, a person not without criticism from Jets fans. The question remains though how much time will Hellebuyck be given to establish himself as the starter or backup?
Make no mistake, Steve Mason is an insurance policy to provide at least league average goaltending for the team. By most analysis this is the main challenge that has held the Jets back from being a playoff team. Again though is the starter decision made in training camp, after 10 games of the regular season or more?
Paul Maurice has shown that he can make difficult decisions with goalies but at the same time he has made difficult situation more complicated. This season could prove no different as perhaps not just at stake is the success of the Jets numbers between the pipes but the relationship with Hellebuyck. Should the Jets slight him in time or games played or even role how difficult could the next off season become?
The Jets hold one more year of control for the goalie and could choose to take him to arbitration but that is likely last ditch effort if all else fails. The fact is the basis for the next deal comes during the season and both the Jets and Hellebuyck have some control or at the very least influence on how the season goes.
Hellebuyck should be given time or ‘rope’ but given the growing fan frustration and ownership concerns around it’s two key architects Chevy and Maurice (both are in the last season of their deals) this will be fascinating to watch. The pressure to win has never been greater and for the cool, confident Hellebuyck some of that needs to fall on him as well.
The goalie will get his shot but don’t be surprised if he’s on a short leash regardless of the stakes for him and the team. In fact those stakes are equally important and if Hellebuyck doesn’t realize that he’s likely not the right goalie for the Jets anyway.
Winnipeg Jets Blogger •Winnipeg Jets Writer • 
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