The hurdles in Hellebuyck’s 2026 Vezina defense
Connor Hellebuyck faces a difficult Vezina repeat bid following knee surgery and a heavy workload of 57 games. The Winnipeg Jets struggle with a last-place Central Division standing and offensive production gaps despite Stuart Skinner's recent strong play.
Knee surgery and the workload problem
Connor Hellebuyck is sidelined following a minor arthroscopic knee procedure. This surgery follows a nagging injury that has bothered him since training camp. Coach Scott Arneil said Hellebuyck had been trying to play through the issue since the preseason. He is recovering from a heavy 2025-26 workload where he played 57 games and 3401 minutes. He also made five starts at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, where he recorded a 1.18 GAA and .956 save percentage to lead Team USA to gold. This follows a historic 2024-25 season where he won the Hart and Vezina trophies with 47 wins, a 2.00 GAA, and 8 shutouts in 63 games. He is entering the third year of a seven-year contract with an $8.5 million cap hit that expires in 2031. I think the decision to shut him down now is the only way to protect his remaining season.
| Hellebuyck 2025-26 Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Games Played | 57 |
| Wins | 23 |
| GAA | 2.86 |
| SV% | .895 |
| Shutouts | 0 |
Central Division struggles and roster gaps
The Jets sit last in the Central Division with 10 points and a -1 goal differential. They are 15-21-5 at the halfway mark and remain 11 points behind the second wild card spot. The team is also eight points behind the Los Angeles Kings for that position. The Jets face a difficult climb in the Central Division where they sit last with 10 points, trailing the Mammoth by four points while remaining 11 points away from the second wild card spot in the West. Secondary scoring has dried up since Nikolaj Ehlers signed with the Hurricanes. Only four forwards have at least 0.50 points per game: Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, Gabriel Vilardi, and Nino Niederreiter. Veteran center Jonathan Toews is 37 years old and has recorded three goals and nine points in 26 games. The team offense produced only 2.50 goals per game since November 16, a figure that is the seventh-worst in the league. The Jets also rank 20th in power-play success at 15 percent and 20th in penalty killing at 78.9 percent. You know the roster needs more production from the bottom six to avoid a complete collapse.
The Skinner factor and trade value
Hellebuyck’s bid for a repeat Vezina Trophy faces massive hurdles. His .895 save percentage last season was the lowest of his 11-year NHL career. He also recorded zero shutouts for the first time. While he was away, Eric Comrie posted a .891 save percentage and 3.14 GAA in seven starts. Thomas Milic produced a .882 save percentage and 3.65 GAA in two appearances. Stuart Skinner has been the primary reason for the recent 3-0-1 run. Skinner is 2-0-1 with a .920 save percentage through his first three games. Skinner previously played for the Edmonton Oilers and the Pittsburgh Penguins. If Skinner maintains this level of play, the Jets have no reason to rush Hellebuyck back. Hellebuyck’s career totals include 330 wins, 191 losses, and 45 shutouts with a 2.56 GAA and .918 save percentage. The Jets have $4.28 million in cap space, and Comrie, who is 30 years old, must prove he can be a quality backup as he enters the final year of his contract. I think his trade value is in serious jeopardy if the team keeps winning without him. Will the organization prioritize the current momentum over Hellebuyck’s individual stats?
