The Winnipeg Jets went from the NHL‘s greatest file a yr in the past to lacking the playoffs solely in the course of the 2025-26 season. That could be a staggering regression, and there have been lots of issues that led to it. Now that the season is over, Winnipeg has an excellent larger drawback on its fingers with regards to its future groups.
The issue?
Its greatest and most vital participant, beginning goalie Connor Hellebuyck, appears to be sad with the course of the franchise and completely eviscerated your entire group throughout his end-of-the-year media availability on Friday.
Connor Hellebuyck calls out all people in Winnipeg
Regardless that the Jets have gained lots of video games over the previous few years and been a constant playoff group, there have at all times been underlying flaws with the roster which have been repeatedly masked by Hellebuyck’s all-world play. He’s a three-time Vezina Trophy winner because the league’s greatest goalie and took residence the Hart Trophy a yr in the past because the league MVP.
As he goes, the group goes. Normally.
Regardless of Hellebuyck having one other robust season, Winnipeg nonetheless missed the playoffs in a weak, watered-down Western Convention the place 90 factors was all it could have taken to get in.
On Friday, Hellebuyck sounded off on all people accountable for setting up the group for permitting that to occur, whereas additionally hesitating to reply when requested if he’s reconsidering his future with the group.
Amongst his criticisms and considerations have been the flexibility of administration to deliver gamers to Winnipeg and make them need to play there, whereas saying that complacency on the a part of the entrance workplace is just not going to get the job carried out.
When he was requested instantly about reconsidering his future there, he gave a brutally sincere reply.
“I don’t need to go and depart any hypothesis,” Hellebuyck mentioned after a number of seconds. “I really like this metropolis, and I really like taking part in right here. The followers have given me a lot, and I’ve given a lot to the followers. There’s an actual connection there. I want extra folks across the league would see that and will see that. Am I going to go in and inform you that proper now I really feel wonderful about successful a Cup tomorrow? Like, no. No group out of the playoffs goes to say that. No participant out of the playoffs goes to say that. However, you realize, you make your choices, and you reside by them. As time goes by, you attempt to re-evaluate after which, actually, as an athlete, the one factor you are able to do is put your greatest foot ahead.
“On this second, after going by way of that, it’s arduous,” Hellebuyck continued. “It’s the subsequent day. To swiftly come over right here and say, ‘We’re going to be wonderful subsequent yr after we simply did that (miss the playoffs).’ That’s simply not the way it works … to take the step again that we did this yr simply felt very incorrect. From the Presidents’ Trophy to this, it felt like this could have by no means occurred. And it did. And I’m a part of it.”
Hellebuyck goes to be 33 years previous subsequent season and has spent his total profession in Winnipeg. Outdoors of his gold-medal-winning efficiency with Staff USA on the 2026 Olympics, he has not discovered any actual group success regardless of being one of many two or three greatest goalies on the planet for the higher a part of his profession. He’s now nearer to retirement than he’s the start of his profession, and he’s operating out of time to get his title on the Stanley Cup.
Winnipeg has constantly failed in placing the kind of group round him that may win, and administration has been constantly sluggish to make modifications to the roster that may higher help their franchise goalie. He is likely to be operating out of persistence for them to do it.
“What we did this yr was unacceptable. Nobody needs to be a part of that. … Are you able to get the items that you just want? Will the gamers come? These are at all times questions that you’ve in Winnipeg. I’ve made it my residence and I prefer it right here, however the majority of the league doesn’t really feel the identical manner,” Hellebuyck continued.
The Jets have been already in a scenario the place it was going to want to make main modifications this offseason. If they don’t seem to be cautious and are unable to easy issues over, that would additionally contain a change with their franchise goalie.
