Hellebuyck Goalie’s Olympic moment could reshape a playoff-wary legacy
Connor Hellebuyck arrived in Milan carrying a mix of elite regular-season résumé and recent postseason criticism, and the hellebuyck goalie conversation now centers on whether an Olympic gold — after wins over Sweden and Canada — can change how he is remembered.
Hellebuyck Goalie: the look, the voice, the quote
At 32, Hellebuyck presents a steely, almost angry visage — eyebrows that dip in the middle and tiny muscles at the corners of his mouth that rarely lift — yet he insists he is "having fun" in Milan. He told reporters, in a near-flat tone, "This is exciting. This is why I play the game. I don’t chase the money, I don’t chase the fame. I play for fun. And these are those moments that I really enjoy. " United States teammate Matthew Tkachuk praised him directly: "I just love his confidence, I love his calmness, " Tkachuk said.
Elite regular-season numbers and rare hardware
Hellebuyck’s regular-season credentials are concrete and historic: he has three Vezina trophies, tying him with Patrick Roy, Glenn Hall and Tony Esposito, and he is one of just eight goaltenders who have won the Hart Trophy — and one of just three this century. Over the last three full seasons he saved 122 more goals than expected, 41 more than the next goalie, Ilya Sorokin of the New York Islanders, per Evolving Hockey. Those figures anchor his claim as one of the game’s top regular-season performers.
Statistics that underline the postseason split
But the postseason numbers tell a different story. Across 23 playoff games in the past three postseasons, Hellebuyck has given up 13 more goals than expected, finishing 47th out of 47 goalies who appeared in the 2023, 2024 and 2025 postseasons. His. 922 save percentage from 2022-2025 is tied for best in the NHL in the regular season, yet it fell to. 872 in the playoffs, a mark that ranked 39th. The Winnipeg Jets won just one series across those three postseasons, and Hellebuyck drew the most scrutiny as the team’s best player.
Moments in Milan and a high-profile saves vs. Canada
The question raised in Milan — whether an Olympic gold medal slung around his neck would rewrite his legacy — gained urgency alongside game moments such as two huge third-period saves vs. Canada. Observers have noted both his Zen-like calm in net, where he "never flails, never panics, never seems to scramble, " and his intense study of the position; Hellebuyck has said he has probably studied goaltending more than any person "in this world. " Those traits show up in plays that can decide single-elimination international games.
Injury, Jets’ season and the next deadline
An injury this season cost Hellebuyck a month of action, and the Jets look like they are going to miss the playoffs, meaning he would have to wait another year to try to shed the "big-game failure" label in the NHL postseason. That reality sharpens the importance of international silverware for his reputation: the Olympic stage in Milan is the environment where advocates and critics alike will measure whether a gold medal alters the narrative built on recent spring results.
For now, Hellebuyck remains in Milan, quoted as calm and focused, while questions about legacy and redemption hinge on Olympic outcomes and the Jets’ unfolding season; if the team misses the playoffs, the next milestone for changing that perception will be another year away.
