There’s no denying the fact that Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck took a bit of a step backwards in his sophomore season with the team. After a solid rookie campaign in 20015-16, Hellebuyck was thrown to the wolves in 2016-17 and forced to start 56 games for a team that was defensively unsound and leaked scoring chances against all levels of competition. Hellebuyck’s numbers suffered and now, the team is left to wonder what exactly they have in the 24 year-old netminder.
Jets coaching and management were hopeful that Hellebuyck’s transition into an NHL starter would go as it did for Pittsburgh Penguins star Matt Murray or even Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson. Fair or not, that hasn’t been the case and now the player and the team are left to negotiate a new contract without knowing exactly what the future has in store. So, how does this affect negotiations? One NHL insider, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that the two sides are close to a deal, with only one year of term.
Check it out:
This seems smart for both Hellebuyck and the Jets. There’s no sense in putting more pressure on the kid with a big money, big term commitment. Let him compete for time with the recently signed Steve Mason next season and then pay him accordingly the following offseason once you have a better understanding of his future in Winnipeg.
For what it's worth, Hellebuyck isn't slated to meet with an arbitrator until Tuesday, August 1st, so there's still plenty of time for the two sides to hammer out an agreement before a hearing is held.
