The Winnipeg Jets signed goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to a six-year, $37 million deal. The new deal will make Hellebuyck the sixth highest-paid goaltender.
The 25-year-old had a 44-11-9 record last season with a 2.36 GAA, and a .924 SV Percentage. His 44 wins tied for league best and broke the NHL single-season record for most wins from a United States born goaltender. He also tied the NHL record for most home wins in a season with 30. His impressive 2017-2018 season made him second for the Vezina Trophy race, which Pekka Rinne of the Nashville Predators won.
The new contract extension seems fair on both sides if Hellebuyck performs like last season. At $6.167 million AAV, Hellebuyck contract is similar to Braden Holtby, Corey Crawford and Cory Schneider. Last season, he was one of five Jet restricted free agents that filed for salary arbitration. The others are defenceman Jacob Trouba and forwards Adam Lowry, Brandon Tanev and Marko Dano. The Jets now have $20.5 million cap space available this upcoming season. Josh Morrissey, Jacob Trouba and Adam Lowry are expected to play a big role next offseason.
2017-2018 was the best campaign in Atlanta/Winnipeg franchise history. They won their first playoff game, series, and reached all the way to the Western Conference Finals against the Vegas Golden Knights and lost 4-1. Hellebuyck’s playoff record was 9-8, with a GAA of 2.36, and SV percentage of .922. Winnipeg having talent like Patrik Laine, Blake Wheeler, Dustin Byfuglien, and Mark Scheifele easily convinced the goaltender to stay. Signing the goaltender to a long-term extension shows that the Jets remain contenders in the Western Conference.
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