MILAN — Connor Hellebuyck appears offended. Like, on a regular basis. There’s simply one thing about that steely glare, the best way his eyebrows dip within the center, the best way the tiny muscle tissues on the corners of his mouth don’t appear able to going up. This is a really critical man.
So it’s nearly jarring to listen to Hellebuyck use a phrase like “fun.” It’s akin to somebody quickly talking in an unfamiliar language dropping in a reputation you acknowledge. Wait, did I simply hear that proper?
But consider it or not, Connor Hellebuyck is having enjoyable in Milan.
“This is exciting,” he mentioned, with completely zero pleasure in his voice. “This is why I play the game. I don’t chase the money, I don’t chase the fame. I play for fun. And these are those moments that I really enjoy.”
Strange cat, this Hellebuyck. His Zen-like calmness in web is a part of what makes him arguably the most effective goaltender on the planet. He by no means flails, by no means panics, by no means appears to scramble. He’s at all times in the fitting place, at all times making the troublesome look routine via savvy anticipation and flawless mechanics.
“I just love his confidence, I love his calmness,” mentioned United States teammate Matthew Tkachuk. “It’s exactly what you want in a No. 1 goalie.”
But the stillness masks a aggressive ferocity that drives him to nearly fanatical ranges. He doesn’t smolder, he burns. Hellebuyck elicited chuckles final spring when he mentioned, and not using a hint of irony in his voice, that he has in all probability studied the artwork and science of goaltending greater than any individual “in this world.” But he wasn’t kidding. He actually does take his job that critically. What he defines as “fun” is that pursuit of perfection.
And he’s come fairly darn near discovering it.
At 32 years outdated, Hellebuyck has already cemented his place as probably the most gifted goalies the league has ever seen. He’s considered one of simply 13 goalies in NHL historical past with three Vezina trophies, tied with the likes of Patrick Roy, Glenn Hall and Tony Esposito. He’s considered one of simply eight who’ve gained the Hart Trophy because the league’s most dear participant, and considered one of simply three this century. He has saved 122 extra objectives than anticipated over the past three full seasons — 41 greater than second-place Ilya Sorokin of the New York Islanders, per Evolving Hockey.
Hellebuyck’s resume and status from October via early April is unimpeachable. It’s these pesky spring months which have been the problem. His playoff efficiency over those self same three seasons is quite ghastly. In 23 playoff video games, he’s given up 13 extra objectives than anticipated, forty seventh out of 47 goalies who appeared within the 2023, 2024 and 2025 postseasons. His .922 save proportion from 2022-2025 is tied for greatest within the league, however within the playoffs, it dropped to .872, dangerous sufficient for thirty ninth place. The Winnipeg Jets gained only one collection over these three postseasons, and Hellebuyck understandably drew essentially the most scrutiny because the workforce’s greatest participant.
A coronation in Milan would possibly give the remainder of the hockey world some confidence in Hellebuyck the subsequent time the stakes are raised. (Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images)
Hellebuyck’s incapability (to this point) to win the massive one has been as a lot part of his story as his regular-season dominance. An damage this season price him a month, and the Jets appear to be they’re going to overlook the playoffs, which means he’ll have to attend one other yr to shed that label as a big-game failure.
Unless he can do it in Milan.
Would the picture of Hellebuyck with an Olympic gold medal slung round his neck — having conquered Sweden, having conquered Canada — be sufficient to change the narrative, to rewrite his legacy, to show him a winner?
As the Olympic match enters the quarterfinal spherical on Wednesday, that’s the type of rarefied air the eight groups left have reached. This is legacy stuff, the type of factor they put within the first line of your obituary — or the primary line of your Hockey Hall of Fame plaque. It’s rather a lot to wrap your mind round, and a few gamers select to not strive. That psychological burden can encourage you or crush you, and all athletes — from determine skater Ilia Malinin to snowboarder Eileen Gu to each NHL participant on the United States, Canada and Sweden rosters — really feel it.
How they deal with it varies. Germany’s Nico Sturm tries to disregard it.
“We all deal with the pressure a little different,” Sturm mentioned. “I always like to not let the moment get too big. You’re at the Olympics and you’re one win away from having a chance to play for a medal. But there’s no point in (spending) the next 20 hours telling yourself that, because you’re going to go crazy.”
Sweden coach Sam Hallam tries to make use of it.
“It’s important that you remind yourself at times where you are,” he mentioned. “This isn’t Game 63 in the regular season. This is once every four years. Just embrace that as motivation.”
American Vincent Trocheck tries to focus it.
“The next game is part of that,” he mentioned. “We have to worry about that one. You can’t get to the semifinal game without winning the quarterfinal game.”
Hellebuyck? He’s, nicely, calm about it. If the burden of historical past — and of his status — weighs on him in any respect, he definitely isn’t exhibiting it. When discussing Wednesday’s quarterfinal towards Sweden, he very a lot seems like he’s discussing Game 63 of the common season.
“No, it’s one day at a time,” he mentioned when requested about it. “I’m enjoying myself and trying to get better. All I can do is put my best foot forward every day.”
That chill confidence is why his teammates, each in Winnipeg and in Milan, like enjoying in entrance of him a lot. Asked what he realized about Hellebuyck on the 4 Nations Face-Off final February, Dylan Larkin mentioned that he’s “a gamer,” including there’s nobody else he’d quite have in web. And Hellebuyck was wonderful on the 4 Nations, posting a tournament-best .932 save proportion and permitting simply 5 objectives in three begins.
But he didn’t win. Jordan Binnington and Canada did. And whereas that blame hardly lies at Hellebuyck’s ft, the very fact is Binnington made another huge save than he did. Binnington stopped Auston Matthews in extra time, Hellebuyck didn’t cease Connor McDavid. Three months later, he gave up 5 or extra objectives in 4 of his 13 playoff begins, dropping to the Dallas Stars in Round 2 after barely escaping the St. Louis Blues in Round 1. The speak of Hellebuyck’s big-game struggles was by no means louder.
And it’s all truthful. Hellebuyck’s trophy room is as spectacular as any participant’s within the NHL. But they’re all particular person, all for the common season. There’s no Stanley Cup. And there’s no gold medal. Not but, a minimum of.
No label is extra offensive to an expert athlete than that of “choker.” It’s a time period that’s in all probability too harsh for Hellebuyck, who will not be solely responsible for the Jets’ incapability to get previous the second spherical of the Stanley Cup playoffs. But it’s not far off, both. Sports followers site visitors in hyperbole the best way Hellebuyck traffics in monotone clichés. So the label will comply with him till he rips it off in triumph.
Would a gold medal be sufficient, or would the skepticism comply with him into Winnipeg’s subsequent playoff collection, every time that could be? Probably the latter, if we’re being trustworthy. In the hockey world, the silver of Lord Stanley nonetheless trumps the gold of the Olympic Games. But it definitely wouldn’t harm the general public notion. It may, on the very least, nudge the narrative.
Internally? Hellebuyck doesn’t appear to really feel any of it — the load, the stress, the stress. This will not be a person who wants extra confidence. To steal a phrase from him, maybe nobody on this world has as a lot confidence as Hellebuyck does. But a coronation in Milan would possibly give the remainder of the hockey world some confidence in him the subsequent time the stakes are raised.
And who is aware of? It would possibly even make him smile.
