Since the 2010–11 season, the Stanley Cup has been awarded to a team with a goalie who played more than 60 regular season games just one time. That was back during the 2011–12 season, when Jonathan Quick led his L.A. Kings to victory, playing 69 times in the regular season and then another 20 playoff games. Otherwise, the Cup-winning goalie accomplished this feat playing anywhere from the mid-30s to upper-50s in games played.
Why is that relevant?
Since Connor Hellebuyck took over as the starter in Winnipeg for the 2016–17 season, he has played over 60 games in six of those nine seasons, including the last four straight years.
Of course, it’s hard to argue with the regular season success he has had during this time, including winning three Vezina Trophies as the top goalie in the NHL, a Hart Trophy last season as league MVP, and back-to-back William Jennings trophies for least goals allowed during the regular season.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
However, the goal of every player on the ice is to win a Stanley Cup, and this Jets team has not been close since their run in 2017–18 to the Western Conference Finals.
One of the questions from folks inside and outside this market is if burnout becomes a factor in the post-season?
When you look at the playoff numbers for Connor Hellebuyck the last three seasons, they are a far cry from the incredible numbers he puts up during the regular season.
His goals saved above expected as per Moneypuck (here’s a link explaining this stat) was top 5 during the last three regular seasons and bottom 5 during those same playoffs. His best showing for this stat in the playoffs was during the Covid shortened regular season back in 2020-21.
This is not to suggest that he is somehow solely responsible for a lack of playoff success, but he is the most valuable player on this team, so the Jets would be well served to optimize his usage to ensure he’s in tip-top form when the playoffs start.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
Jets head coach Scott Arniel was on the NHL Network Radio show The Power Play, and Steve Kouleas asked him about how many games his goaltender might play this season, especially when you consider the condensed schedule due to the Olympics. With his usual caveats about goalies being a different entity, the bench boss in Winnipeg did offer some interesting insight:
“We haven’t had the official talk before opening game, which we will have in the next week. He keeps pushing for 82 games. He wants to play every single game, and I really tell everybody that listens, I stay out of the goalie business. That’s Wade Flaherty and him and Eric Comrie.
But in this one, certainly with this year and what’s kinda going on, that could be — I’m not sure the exact number — but that could be ten games in the Olympics if he ends up playing them all.
It’s a workload, and again, like I mentioned earlier, four games a week — it is something that we seriously have to look at. And if we want to play well into June to make that run to the Stanley Cup, I need a guy that’s going to be able to be fresh for that whole stretch.
It is something that we’ve talked about a little bit, kinda nibbled at around the edges. He still wants to play them all — he’s just a competitor, and he just wants to be in there — but we still have to look at it, what’s best for us.
Eric Comrie can be a guy that can step in and win us hockey games just as well.
We’re going to have that conversation next week.
I would love to get it under 60.
I don’t lay out the whole year, but we do lay out a month. I sit down with him, and we lay out a month and kinda play it that way, with Wade, and go from there with both goaltenders.”
Ultimately, how many games Hellebuyck plays during the regular season will matter less than how fresh and sharp he is once the playoffs begin. The Jets have built their team around him as their most valuable player, and history has shown that heavy workloads can take a toll when it matters most. Managing his games played isn’t about limiting his competitiveness, it’s about giving the Jets the best chance to reach the top of the mountain. If Winnipeg hopes to turn regular season brilliance into a deep playoff run, ensuring Hellebuyck is at his peak in April, May and potentially into June will be just as important as the games he wins along the way.
