Vezina candidates stand tall
Battle between the pipes brings intrigue for Jets
This is the company Connor Hellebuyck is planning to keep for years to come.
Since arriving on the scene with the Winnipeg Jets, Hellebuyck has demonstrated a certain level of confidence when it comes to his ability between the pipes — occasionally even when it left those around him shaking their heads a bit.
He’s got high expectations for himself and he’s constantly pushing to be better.
The quest for the Vezina Trophy was on Hellebuyck’s mind last season and he wasn’t afraid to share it, even during a stretch when he was frequently being pulled from games.
But that confidence shouldn’t be misconstrued as arrogance.
When you’re the last line of defence, the faith in one’s ability to stop the puck simply cannot waver.
And for Hellebuyck, his words have been backed up his actions this season and that continued during the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Going into the second round matchup with the Nashville Predators, goaltending is once again expected to play a pivotal role.
As good as Hellebuyck was this season, one could make the argument that Predators puck-stopper Pekka Rinne meant just as much to his team. The numbers themselves are similar, but Rinne is considered by many to be the front-runner for the Vezina Trophy.
Although he doesn’t have the same personal relationship with Rinne as he did with Devan Dubnyk, his goalie opponent in the opening round, Hellebuyck has no shortage of respect for the longtime face of the Predators franchise.
“He’s a great goalie. He’s proven it throughout his career. I’m excited for this battle we’re going to have,” said Hellebuyck, when asked about Rinne on Wednesday.
“Our styles are so different, it’s tough for me to add some of his. But he has good composure and good hands.”
Rinne is a seasoned veteran, a 35-year-old Finn who has been with the Predators organization since being selected by them in a round of the NHL Draft that no longer exists.
An eighth-round selection (258th overall) in 2004, Rinne came over to North America for the 2005-06 season to play in the American Hockey League with the Milwaukee Admirals.
Rinne spent most of three seasons in the minors before becoming a full-time NHLer, taking over the No. 1 job with the Predators during the 2008-09 season.
“Pekka is one of the best stories you can use over and over again with all of your younger players coming into your organization and even with the older players,” Predators general manager David Poile said in a telephone interview on Wednesday. “He was drafted in a round that we don’t have anyone and played three full years in Milwaukee. His career speaks for itself. Like wine, he’s actually getting better with age and this has all of the makings of his best year ever.”
Playoff success had been tougher to come by, until last spring, when he backstopped the Predators to Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Chosen in the fifth round of the 2012 NHL Draft out of the North American Hockey League after playing for the Odessa Jackalopes, Hellebuyck had two strong seasons in the NCAA with the University of Massachusetts-Lowell RedHawks, capturing the inaugural Mike Richter Award as the top goalie in college hockey before deciding to turn pro.
Last season, with Ondrej Pavelec banished to the minors after training camp, Hellebuyck expanded his apprenticeship and took over the leading role, appearing in 56 games and making 53 starts.
There were plenty of ups and downs to endure, but Hellebuyck used the summer to work on some things and came back ready to take the next step.
After watching Steve Mason start the first two games, Hellebuyck stayed focused and was prepared when the time came for him to step into the net.
As it turns out, Hellebuyck took back the No. 1 job and put together an impressive season, going 44-11-9 with a 2.36 goals-against average and .924 save percentage — a stark improvement from the 26-19-4 record and 2.89 goalsagainst average and .907 save percentage from the prior campaign.
Hellebuyck’s confidence remained high, but the most important thing he did was provide stability for a position that needed it.
“I really think it’s his confidence,” said Jets rookie forward Jack Roslovic, when asked what has impressed him most about Hellebuyck this season. “I remember last year I watched him a lot, even though I wasn’t on the team. He didn’t seem to be himself at times or something wasn’t quite there, I don’t really know what it was. But this year, he really liked the new (off-season) trainer he was with and I really think he got dialled in over the summer. He came in and wanted to take that No. 1 spot and he did it. He’s just a heck of a player, he saved us a lot of games.”