Jets Sign Connor Hellebuyck To One Year Deal

The Winnipeg Jets have opened up the work week by announcing they’ve avoided an arbitration hearing and signed restricted free agent goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to a one year deal with 2.25 million.This is very much a “show us” type deal who may still be high on the 24 year old goalie, but want to hedge their bets based on Hellebuyck’s previous season and the fact that they also have 29 year old Steve Mason as well as 22 year old prospect Eric Comrie developing in the AHL.

Last season in 56 games played with the team, Hellebuyck went 26-19-4 with a .907 save percentage, a  2.89 goals-against average, and picked up four shutouts. His season was an up-and-down one as there were moments of brilliance that seemed to be a preview of a future franchise goalie, but also stretches where he struggled possibly due to a work load he wasn’t able to handle and a defense that at times had issues getting the puck out of their own zone.

This coming season, it’s likely Hellebuyck seems more of a back-up role to Mason but will be given chances to prove himself, much like his first season with the Jets where he was Ondrej Pavelec’s back-up and posted a 13-11-1 record with a .918 save percentage.