More MVP Worthy Player: Mackinnon, Kuch or Drai?

[Skidooboy]

Hellebuyck

 

[Fantomas]

He's not even "easily" the best d-man in the league, much less overall player.

Wrong

 

[RussianBum86]

Just realized that Kuch has played 5 less games and has less EN points than Nate.

He is Russian so he is worse than mackinnon obviously.

 

[Mad Dog Tannen]

Agreed with the “Easily Hellebuyck” take.

I really don’t think it’s close anymore.

50 goal seasons happen basically every year. Helle is doing stuff that happens twice a century.

 

[bambamcam4ever]

Kucherov is average at worst if that's who you're referring to. 45% EV D on JFresh. Mackinnon is in the 20s somewhere...

That's nice buddy. Glad you can read numbers that come out of a black box. Kucherov is the biggest cherry picker in the league.

 

[bambamcam4ever]

Not all teams get the benefit of having Nathan MacKinnon 120 feet off the bench when Kadri scores an overtime winner with 5 other guys on the ice with him in a cup final game where the statkeepers literally had to decide whether or not 6 guys would get a +1 on their plus/minus because their software registered 6 players on the offensive side of center ice with no one within 30 yards of the bench, but you don't see people holding that against Colorado.

Tampa was going to be swept by Colorado until they started interfering non stop. They were getting dominated until the refs stepped in

 

[PhilJets]

Hellebuyck SV .925 GAA 1.99
Comrie SV .913 GAA 2.36

Kuemper SV .922 GAA 2.01
Rittich SV .889 GAA 2.71

Vasilevsky SV .921 GAA 2.17
Johansson SV .901 GAA 3.03

First of all, despite Hellebuyck leading all goalie stats, the other finalists are very close. He is not dominant.

Secondly, his backup has much better numbers than the other finalists, which tells you that it's more about the team defense, the Jets have a good one.

Thirdly, he plays on a strong offensive team, top 3 in goals, top 2 PP. It's not like he is carrying a team with 1-0 wins. Even the last game, a shotout is cool, but it's 4-0, what would have changed if he had allowed 1 or even 2 goals? Nothing
He deserved the Vezina, but he definitely didn't deserve the Hart Trophy.

Two stats that sticks out with this year Helly.

only the 3rd Leading all goalies in all categories but it can change with 3 game to go ( he probably play 1 more game ).

3rd goalie in NHL history with 45 wins & 8 shutouts in a season, joining Martin Brodeur 2x & Bernie Parent.

Even with a good back up that is dominating. 45 wins, only 12 regulation lost.

 

[PhilJets]

I'd probably want to also look at how much Jets opponents possess the puck per game, because my guess is Hellebuyck is sitting at the other end of the ice doing nothing for about half of each game he plays, if not more

Ok, lets add shots for by this players vs shots against on Helly

By the way
As of April 12, 2025, Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets has faced the most shots among NHL goaltenders this season, with a total of 1,314 shots against over 48 games played.

Despite this high volume, Hellebuyck leads the league maintained an impressive .927 save percentage and a 1.99 goals-against average. with 8 shutouts and 45 wins ( only the 7th goalie in league history to do so ).

 

[Mad Dog Tannen]

Ok, lets add shots for by this players vs shots against on Helly

By the way
As of April 12, 2025, Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets has faced the most shots among NHL goaltenders this season, with a total of 1,314 shots against over 48 games played.

Despite this high volume, Hellebuyck leads the league maintained an impressive .927 save percentage and a 1.99 goals-against average. with 8 shutouts and 45 wins ( only the 7th goalie in league history to do so ).

But kucherov got 3 en goals in one game. How often does that happen?!

 

[Duke749]

Hellebuyck SV .925 GAA 1.99
Comrie SV .913 GAA 2.36

Kuemper SV .922 GAA 2.01
Rittich SV .889 GAA 2.71

Vasilevsky SV .921 GAA 2.17
Johansson SV .901 GAA 3.03

First of all, despite Hellebuyck leading all goalie stats, the other finalists are very close. He is not dominant.

Secondly, his backup has much better numbers than the other finalists, which tells you that it's more about the team defense, the Jets have a good one.

Thirdly, he plays on a strong offensive team, top 3 in goals, top 2 PP. It's not like he is carrying a team with 1-0 wins. Even the last game, a shotout is cool, but it's 4-0, what would have changed if he had allowed 1 or even 2 goals? Nothing
He deserved the Vezina, but he definitely didn't deserve the Hart Trophy.

Eric Comrie? Eric Comrie is your argument against Hellebuyck?? A sub .900% a 3+ GAA career… Eric Comrie…

 

[ijuka]

Hellebuyck SV .925 GAA 1.99
Comrie SV .913 GAA 2.36

Kuemper SV .922 GAA 2.01
Rittich SV .889 GAA 2.71

Vasilevsky SV .921 GAA 2.17
Johansson SV .901 GAA 3.03

First of all, despite Hellebuyck leading all goalie stats, the other finalists are very close. He is not dominant.

Secondly, his backup has much better numbers than the other finalists, which tells you that it's more about the team defense, the Jets have a good one.

Thirdly, he plays on a strong offensive team, top 3 in goals, top 2 PP. It's not like he is carrying a team with 1-0 wins. Even the last game, a shotout is cool, but it's 4-0, what would have changed if he had allowed 1 or even 2 goals? Nothing
He deserved the Vezina, but he definitely didn't deserve the Hart Trophy.

Hellebuyck xGAA 2.63, realized 1.99 GAA.
Vasilevskiy xGAA 2.65, realized 2.20 GAA.
Kuemper xGAA 2.47 realized 2.01 GAA.

Comrie xGAA 2.46 realized 2.36.
Johansson xGAA 3.16, realized 3.03.
Rittich xGAA 2.47 realized 2.71.

Is it more about the team defense?


Logan Thompson is the one who might have a claim:

xGAA 3.10, realized 2.49.

Or Stolartz:

xGAA 2.93, realized 2.28.


But if we go by percentages, 1.99 / 2.63 = 0.757 goals allowed per expected goal against, and he should be doing the best out of these goalies in that stat anyway.

 

[bert]

Hate to say it but if Kuch was from North America he should probably have atleast 2 when it's all said and done.

 

[PhilJets]

CONNOR HELLEBUYCK his case to win the HART TROPHY :

Connor Hellebuyck is the most valuable player to his team.
He’s carrying the Winnipeg Jets to the top of the Western Conference and LEAGUE with league-leading goalie stats:
Most wins (45)
Best GAA (1.99)
Best SV% (.929)
Most shutouts (8)
Top GSAx (28.2)

Historically some of the things he is doing doesn't regularly happen. As mentioned by some of the previous posts.


NOTE: there might be some error adjustments, i tried my best to present it as accurate as i can, feel free to correct me to update... thank you in advance.

 

[Mad Dog Tannen]

As of this morning still looking like Hellebuyck is the clear favourite.

Odds actually shot up after reporters starting recieving their requests for votes.

Here are this mornings odds:
(pretty amazing how far Mac and kuch have fallen off since the thread got started - which purposely left out Helle from the title. Lol. Thanks for the reverse jinx @User9992 !!!)

 

[Mad Dog Tannen]

Odds keep getting better to cement Hellebuyck as the favourite!!