Connor Hellebuyck 3rd Fastest Goalie to 300 Wins

[Video Nasty]

It's crazy that everyone loves to say this, seemingly forgetting about a couple years back where he basically singlehandedly swept Edmonton and McDavid

No question he was terrific, but come on…he’s been god awful since then and there’s nothing wrong with getting on him for that.

First off, by the time the 2025 playoffs begin, it will be almost four years since that series wrapped up.

Since then, he’s led them to a 2-12 record and has let up at least 4 goals in 10 of those 14 games, with 5 of them being either 5 or 6 goals. One of those two victories, he let up 6 goals, but thankfully his team hung up 7. To be fair, one of his losses was when he let up just a single goal. Overall, it’s one of the worst stretches I can remember from an all-timer.

I really admire his overall play and the resume he’s been putting together. I think he’s the best individual netminder we have in today’s game and doesn’t deserve his overall recognition, and doesn’t deserve all the blame, but it’s fair to point out that he needs to lead the Jets to more success than he has, and that’s it’s been awhile since he’s done anything of note when the playoffs start up.

I think it’s only a matter of time, but naturally, I don’t want his success yet at the expense of McDavid leading the Oilers to the Cup, so I’m hopeful he’s awful at least one more time before catching fire.

 

[Hockey Outsider]

Kind of weird career. Obviously an elite netminder but will likely win his 3rd Vezina this season but doesn't have that "all-time great" feel to him.

Maybe I've just been not paying enough attention. He's a sure-fire HOF'er at this point if (when) he wins that 3rd Vezina. If he holds on this season, he'll have his 5th season with a .920 or better sv% which is insane.

An all-time career that kind of sneaks up on you.

For what it's worth - in the ongoing Top 60 Goalies project on the History forum, Hellebuyck was ranked 22nd all-time. For context, that's behind post-lockout goalies like Lundqvist (12th all-time), Vasilevskiy (15th), Luongo (19th), and Price (21st). But he's comfortably ahead of Joseph, Kiprusoff, Quick, and Barrasso (all of whom are in the 30's).

The two obvious strikes against Hellbuyck are lack of playoff success, and his career is still ongoing (so he hasn't had time to accumulate as many good/great seasons as most of the other names ahead of him). Still, 22nd all-time, in a project that covers about 130 years of hockey history, is hugely impressive (and, regardless of if he wins a Stanley Cup, he should be a lock for the Hall of Fame).