Jets Off-Season Player Profile: Laurent Brossoit Enjoys Solid Performance in Backup Role

Following a rocky performance in 2019-20, there was some belief that backup @Laurent Brossoit would take his services elsewhere last off-season, however, he ultimately decided to return on a one-year, $1.5 million deal.

Brossoit, originally drafted by the Calgary Flames in 2011, was then traded to the Edmonton Oilers in 2013 and finally earned his first NHL win in 2017. Then in 2018, he signed with the Winnipeg Jets and has spent the last three seasons in the “True North.”

Let’s take a look at what went well and not so well for the 28-year-old backup this past season.

Apparently, having 329 days of rest was a good thing for Brossoit. He significantly increased his save percentage, as it improved from .895 in 2019-20 to .918 in the 2020-21 shortened season. This was the highest save percentage of Brossoit’s career since the 2018-19 campaign, where he posted a .925 through 21 games.

As for his goals-against average, last season he recorded a 3.28 goals-against average and this past season it dropped down to 2.42. Brossoit also had a shutout this season! It was against the Vancouver Canucks on Feb. 19, where he stopped all 29 shots on goal.

Brossoit’s quality start percentage also significantly improved from .467 in 2019-20 to .636 this past season. The 6′ 3″ netminder was focused all season long and proved his worth in the NHL.

One thing of note, Brossoit has performed extremely well against the Canucks throughout his entire career. Since making his NHL debut in 2014-15, he’s only lost once to them and that was during a shootout. The most goals he’s ever allowed in a single game against his hometown team are two. Not sure if he just wants to burn the team that was closest to him growing up but it is a weird stat.

Honestly, Brossoit didn’t have much going wrong for him this past season. He was well worth the one-year contract he received from the Jets. So I’ll be a little nit-picky about some of his numbers.

Brossoit had three games where he had a sub .900 save percentage and lost all of those games. One of which was a game where he posted a .667 save percentage, which was against the Montreal Canadiens, where he allowed three goals on nine shots in 25:13 of game time.

I guess the other thing is Brossoit only got to start in 11 games, which is only about 20 percent of the games on the season. I think if he were behind an average goalie he’d be the “1B” option rather than the backup. That’s not his fault, he plays behind one of the best goalies in the NHL. But I think this performance could extend Brossoit’s playing career and allow him to be one of those goalies who serves as a starter for fringe playoff teams well into his late 30s.

Brossoit’s record was also not as good as I thought it would be entering the 2020-21 campaign. In total, he performed to a mediocre 6-6 record. While win-loss records should be taken with a grain of salt, a .500 winning percentage probably isn’t good enough for a goalie who wants to turn into a starter.

I think Brossoit is going to find a starting job somewhere. Where? I have no clue. But I think he’s ready to be a “B” starter for a team like the Buffalo Sabers or some other rebuilding team, where he produces a brutal .880 save percentage and a 3.20 goals-against average. If Brossoit sticks around Winnipeg next season, I expect him to start 25 games or so and post similar numbers to this past season.

What did you think of Brossoit’s season? Would you want him back next season? Or should someone else serve as @Connor Hellebuyck’s backup? Let me know in the comments below or hit me up on Twitter or Instagram – @angushout.

Salary cap numbers came from PuckPedia.com.

Stats came from HockeyReference.com and NHL.com.