A look at just how terrible Connor Hellebuyck has been in Round 1.

The Winnipeg Jets have a major, major, problem on their hands one that could prevent the team from ever being a serious contender during the Stanley Cup playoffs. I am of course referring to the rapidly growing reputation of star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck as a playoff choker.

Hellebuyck entered the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs with a lot of questions surrounding whether or not he could deliver at the most important time of the season, and I think it is now safe to say that those questions have been answered rather definitely. Hellebuyck has been nothing short of abysmal for the Jets in their opening round series against the St. Louis Blues and today I will be taking a look at just how remarkably bad Hellebuyck has truly been.

First it's important to add a little context here regarding the expectations surrounding Hellebuyck coming into these playoffs. Hellebuyck was arguably the best goaltender in the entire National Hockey League this season and is considered by many to be the favorite to win both the Vezina Trophy and the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL's best goaltender and most valuable player during the regular season. Hellebuyck finished the season with great numbers recording a 2.00 goals against average and a .925 save percentage over a significant workload of 63 games during the season, making a clear case as a legitimate Vezina candidate.

Understandably the Jets expected him to continue that level of dominance in the postseason but unfortunately for the Jets what they've gotten instead has been unquestionably the worst goaltender from any team in these Stanley Cup playoffs. When looking at goals saved above expected, Hellebuyck is at an abysmal -10.29 which is nearly double that of the second worst goalie in the playoffs, Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner, who has a -5.22 goals saved above expected.

It doesn't take advanced stats to highlight how poorly Hellebuyck has played either with the raw numbers looking terrible no matter how you slice it. Through 6 playoff games Hellebuyck has a shocking 4.42 goals against average and an abysmal .815 save percentage, all but cementing his reputation as a playoff choker.

Things have been even worse on the road for Hellebuyck with the Jets netminder allowing 16 goals against on just 66 shots, a save percentage of .758 on the road, numbers you simply cannot expect to win with at the NHL level. This was again the case on Friday night where Hellebuyck continued to allow soft goals on the road.

This is not an isolated issue for Hellebuyck either with his issues on the road in the playoffs extending well beyond this season, Sportsnet Stats points out that Hellebuyck has been pulled 4 times over his last 7 road playoff appearances, boasting a 5.93 goals against average and a .829 save percentage over that stretch of games.

The numbers are damning and you can tell based on the comments being made by some pundits about Hellebuyck's inability to deliver in the playoffs that his reputation has already taken a major hit in these Stanley Cup playoffs.

Hellebuyck will get the chance to silence his doubters in Game 7 at home in Winnipeg, but there's no longer any disputing the fact that this has become a major issue for the Winnipeg Jets.