Player Discussion: 2024 Vezina Winner Connor Hellebuyck

[CrosbyStaalsAndNash]

On the one hand, goalies are voodoo...but OTOH, Hellebuyck had about as solid a track record of elite play at every level going back half a decade at that point and his worst year was better than Paverage.

I was just staring at his NCAA stats the other night and admiring his high consistency of play over his entire career.

In the NCAA he went 38-12-2 with 12 shutouts, 1.6 GAA and .946 SV%
In the AHL he went 41-37-7 with 10 shutouts, 2.55 GAA and .921 SV%
In the NHL he's 299-178-42 with 42 shutouts, 2.59 GAA and .918 SV%

He has 2 Vezina trophies (3 come May voting), a Jennings and a Mike Richter Award (top NCAA goalie) to his name.

Everywhere he's played he has been at the top of the league and recognized for it.

We are all Witness.
Let's enjoy the ride, and never take Hellebuyck for granted

 

[FonRiesen]

I can't remember any chorus of doubt/disappointment in that 17 season. It was a little below expectations after the outstanding 18 season so I would be surprised if there wasn't ANY criticism or doubt. I don't think it was a lot. Or was it?

Nah, it was only 1 or 2 extremely vocal naysayers (that still pop up here occasionally after one of Helle's rare bad games... probably when they've had a bit too much ).

I think those that wanted to trade him over the years have mainly been worrying about a potentially massive salary and therefore ruining our depth - especially when it looked like our window was gone after Buff's departure.

Thankfully those fears were unfounded!

 

[Mortimer Snerd]

Nah, it was only 1 or 2 extremely vocal naysayers (that still pop up here occasionally after one of Helle's rare bad games... probably when they've had a bit too much ).

I think those that wanted to trade him over the years have mainly been worrying about a potentially massive salary and therefore ruining our depth - especially when it looked like our window was gone after Buff's departure.

Thankfully those fears were unfounded!

There was certainly a lot of trade talk after the 23 season. But that was based on the expectation that he was going to refuse to extend. And then he went out and won 1.5 Vezinas.

I wonder what some of those GMs who were unwilling to pony up when he was available think now? Same applies to Scheifele, though obviously a little less so.
We need a kick self in ass emoji.