Player Discussion: 2024 Vezina Finalist Connor Hellebuyck

[Victorias]

Helly in all road games had to be better.

But just to calm the myth of every goal scored on helly is a bad goal given up by him.

Game 7
3 goals againts

first goal
He made 2 moves to try to save the goal but the Blues players just had too much time and space. Helyl made the effort.

second goal
it hit Josh skate blade and rocketed

3rd goal
it hit Schenns toe skate and rocket up again


On Binnington
3 of 4 goals scored on him was deflections and redirected.. what does any goalie got to do on this situations right?

but
the 1st Perfetti goal if that happened on Helly? We call that out of position and a bad goal.

There was different postures in Helly’s first half of the game vs last half and OT. But even earlier he was making good saves

This was his best game overall out of all the games.

JUST SO HAPPY for Helly.

I do think he should have had the second one regardless of a deflection. There’s no passing option, so he should have been square to the shot and let it hit him in the chest (instead of having it go under his arm).

That being said, I like that he said “no more goals” after the second intermission and lived up to it. The team did a better job of clearing the crease and Helly stepped up in the paint as needed.

We all know he’s the best in the world and the longer the playoffs go, the more likely we’ll see the real Helly.

 

[ahmedou]

Connor Helleback

 

[PhilJets]

Hopefully we see back now... the previous playoff Helly OR BETTER. going forward.

 

[PhilJets]

Helly i believe can play in the big games.... he is just under the microscope.

 

[UFO]

The MVP is back and he is everyone's problem now.

 

[Buffdog]

People who have never tended goal will have a hard time understanding how much of it is mental

When things aren't going well, you're just hoping that shots hit you or don't go in

When you're playing well, it feels like nothing can get past you

The weird thing (at least with me) is that I knew when both were happening to me, but I never really figured out how to flip the switch from one to the other

 

[Jet]

People who have never tended goal will have a hard time understanding how much of it is mental

When things aren't going well, you're just hoping that shots hit you or don't go in

When you're playing well, it feels like nothing can get past you

The weird thing (at least with me) is that I knew when both were happening to me, but I never really figured out how to flip the switch from one to the other

Me too! I would get into spirals where I would micro focus on one thing like glove or stick positioning and totally get in my own head.

Those things are for practice, in a game you need to rely on muscle memory and have confidence and unfortunately you can't just flip a switch.

I used to play goal and d and when I was living in Vancouver someone stole my goalie gear. That was a signal from the hockey gods to retire from goaltending

 

[DRW204]

0.793 on the road, -11 in Goals-Saved-Above-Expected and a GA/60 just under 6.

BRUTAL. guy is the antithesis of clutch.

 

[Mud Turtle]

So is it wrong to pull him when he’s in this type of mental state?
There’s only one game left to flip his switch and if it’s really that hard to do, why are we waiting to make the change to a guy who has played well so far in limited minutes?

 

[DRW204]

what's usually the common regular season gp for cup winning goalies over the last 5-10 years?

hellebuyck has ranked 1st, 3rd, 1st in regular season gp with each year being 60+.

it's not like they have had shitty back-ups behind him either.... Back-up SV% of 0.901, 0.927 and 0.914 each year respectively. Rittich's 0.901 was definitely weaker than the other 2, still around league average, so can see the case why they needed to play Helle a bit more that season.

 

[Jet]

So is it wrong to pull him when he’s in this type of mental state?
There’s only one game left to flip his switch and if it’s really that hard to do, why are we waiting to make the change to a guy who has played well so far in limited minutes?

If we manage to muster up our cojones to win game 5 id be playing Comrie in game 6. What's the worst that could happen?

Maybe it gets Hellebuyck fired up?

 

[CanMerc]

Jets need a back up goalie who’s great in the playoffs…Helle can goaltend during the season, then he can sit and watch the playoffs from the bench

 

[HellebuyckOurSaviour]

Jets need a back up goalie who’s great in the playoffs…Helle can goaltend during the season, then he can sit and watch the playoffs from the bench

I am very happy that Comrie has played amazing this season, esp after that bad stretch he had early on (Not really his fault when the team could barely score any goals when he was in net), but if we were looking at a cheap backup goalie who has played in the playoffs, i'm surprised we didn't look at Martin Jones, as he was and still is a free agent. Has a winning regular season record, and also a winning playoff record. Could have been signed for league minimum.

 

[tbcwpg]

If we manage to muster up our cojones to win game 5 id be playing Comrie in game 6. What's the worst that could happen?

Maybe it gets Hellebuyck fired up?

The worst that could happen is that Comrie predictably looks bad and there's a rift between the org and the reigning 2x Vezina winner and perhaps Hart winner and the team starts a very long and painful rebuild.

 

[Jet]

The worst that could happen is that Comrie predictably looks bad and there's a rift between the org and the reigning 2x Vezina winner and perhaps Hart winner and the team starts a very long and painful rebuild.

You think trading Hellebuyck starts a very long and painful rebuild?

You think that Hellebuyck is that much better than say a Spencer Knight type that we wouldn't make the playoffs and would have to rebuild?

I think you are massively overstating Hellebuycks role in our record season this year.

I think this team makes the playoffs with league average goaltending, and maybe, JUST MAYBE that goalie can save more than 75% of the shots taken at him in the playoffs.

What's the alternative? We keep Hellebuyck and resign ourselves to never having playoff success or a true shot at a cup.

Hellebuyck is the worst starting goalie in the past 2 seasons playoffs.

Also, Comrie predictably looks bad? Why is that? Check out his stats this year - he was better than half the league's starters. We've also never seen him start a playoff game, but he's looked good in relief.

 

[HellebuyckOurSaviour]

If we are thinking of trading Hellebuyck, who would we trade for?

 

[cbcwpg]

Helly has a NTC for the next 2 seasons ( which he could wave ) but I think a team like Buffalo would give you a king's ransom for a goalie that can get you into the playoffs and no further.

Not saying we will or should trade Helly, just saying teams like Buffalo would be a target.

 

[tbcwpg]

You think trading Hellebuyck starts a very long and painful rebuild?

You think that Hellebuyck is that much better than say a Spencer Knight type that we wouldn't make the playoffs and would have to rebuild?

I think you are massively overstating Hellebuycks role in our record season this year.

I think this team makes the playoffs with league average goaltending, and maybe, JUST MAYBE that goalie can save more than 75% of the shots taken at him in the playoffs.

What's the alternative? We keep Hellebuyck and resign ourselves to never having playoff success or a true shot at a cup.

Hellebuyck is the worst starting goalie in the past 2 seasons playoffs.

Also, Comrie predictably looks bad? Why is that? Check out his stats this year - he was better than half the league's starters. We've also never seen him start a playoff game, but he's looked good in relief.

Yes, Hellebuyck being nominated for a second consecutive Vezina and Hart trophy is massively overstating his role in this team's record, sure.

I think the team might sneak into a wild card with an average goaltender, maybe. I don't think the team in front is good enough to go very far.

Besides, what are you going to get for Hellebuyck at this point? You're selling for pennies on the dollar.

Comrie has been fine in relief in a couple games that were way out of reach by the time he came in.

 

[Joe Hallenback]

Man people forget when we had some shit teams and he was dragging us into the playoffs pretty f***ing quickly around here

 

[surixon]

This org doesn't operate like that. When have they ever traded a core piece that wants to be here.

Helle isn't going anywhere, what they need to do is figure out a plan of action to get him to perform in the playoffs.

All the following should be on the table:

1) Convincing him to sign off on a load management plan. It worked wonders for another multiple vezina trophy winner in Florida and allowed him to get over the hump.

2) Perhaps a new goalie coach is needed

3) Hire/switch up mental skills coaching

They need to leave no rock unturned to get him over the hump.

 

[HellebuyckOurSaviour]

You think Boston would consider a Hellebuyck for Swayman deal? Money is almost the same, and Swayman is younger of the 2.

 

[Joe Hallenback]

You think Boston would consider a Hellebuyck for Swayman deal? Money is almost the same, and Swayman is younger of the 2.

wtf did Swayman do this year

sweet f*** all once Ulmark left

 

[cbcwpg]

This org doesn't operate like that. When have they ever traded a core piece that wants to be here.

Helle isn't going anywhere, what they need to is figure out a plan of action to get him to perform in the playoffs.

All the following should be on the table:

1) Convincing him to sign off on a load management plan. It worked wonders for another multiple vezina trophy winner in Florida and allowed him to get over the hump.

2) Perhaps a new goalie coach is needed

3) hire/switch up mental skills coaching

They need to leaving no Rock unturned to get him over the hump.

How about...

 

[Duke749]

wtf did Swayman do this year

sweet f*** all once Ulmark left

Led the league in goals against lol

 

[DRW204]

it takes a collective effort to be this bad. however, helle did this team no favors and no was where close to his regular season proficiency. an 0.864? that's worse than Samsonov last year. or +5 in GA vs xGA, for every 1 xGA faced he gave-up 1.27 GA. vs regular season of 0.81.

Helle follows up last year's performance with another all-time bad one.

since 1968 - obviously this YTD and could change after tomorrow - of goalie's with 10+ gp in a single playoff year, he currently has the 2nd worst sv% of all-time