Jets reward Hellebuyck with $37-million deal
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The Winnipeg Jets are banking on Connor Hellebuyck’s ability to turn one superb season into a recurring theme.
The Jets top goalie, a restricted free agent this summer, was rewarded for an all-star 2017-18 NHL season with a new six-year, $37-million contract.
John Locher / The Associated Press files
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, an all-star who was also a finalist for the Vezina Trophy in 2017-18, has signed a six-year, $37-million contract with the Jets.
Hellebuyck got his number, literally. The product of Commerce, Mich., wears jersey No. 37 for the Central Division team.
The 25-year-old netminder’s contract carries an average annual value of $6.167 million.
Hellebuyck appeared in a career-high 67 games, setting single-season franchise records for wins (44), shutouts (6), and save percentage (.924). The 44 victories are the eighth-most in a season in NHL history and the most by an American-born goaltender.
He played in the all-star game in January, was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goalie this past season and was named an NHL Second-Team All-Star.
Hellebuyck, drafted by the Jets in the fifth round (130th overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft, will speak to reporters today at 10:30 a.m. at the MTS Iceplex. Winnipeg general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff will also comment on the new deal this afternoon via conference call.
Winnipeg still has several RFAs to reach agreements, including defencemen Jacob Trouba, Josh Morrissey and Tucker Poolman, and forwards Adam Lowry, Brandon Tanev and Marko Dano.
jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca
Twitter: @WFPJasonBell
Jason Bell
Assistant sports editor
Jason Bell wanted to be a lawyer when he was a kid. The movie The Paper Chase got him hooked on the idea of law school and, possibly, falling in love with someone exactly like Lindsay Wagner (before she went all bionic).