Jets goaltender reflects on ‘chaos’ season
Posted April 17, 2026 4:51 pm.
Jets star netminder Connor Hellebuyck took time to reflect on a difficult season after Winnipeg missed the playoffs after topping the regular season last year.
“This year was chaos. Good start, I played good enough to win a gold medal. My game wasn’t different before or after. Bad bounces this year, there were a lot. Don’t think our team was deserving of a spot that we’re in, got a lot of bad bounces, but also created a lot of our own bad luck,” Hellebuyck explained.
“In this moment, it’s hard. This is hard for any athlete that doesn’t make the playoffs. Takes time to erase memory, to take the step back that we did this year, felt wrong. The President Trophy to this just felt it should have never happened. I’m not saying I’m not a big part of it, when you look at the future, it takes time to reevaluate things.”
As for the future of the team, Hellebuyck says, “Meetings are important. Looking at the future of the team, what we did here was unacceptable and no one wants to be a part of that.” Before saying, “It’s hard. Can you get the pieces you need? Will the players come? Those are always the questions that you have in Winnipeg. I made it my home, and I like it here, but the majority of the league doesn’t feel the same way. For me, it’s winning a cup. That’s my goal, that’s what I want. Don’t play the game for money or fame.”
As for his own future?
“I don’t want to go in and leave any speculation. I love this city, love playing here. Real connection there, wish more people around the league would see that. You want your decisions, and you live by them. As time goes by, you try to re-evaluate, that’s where my head is at. Nice long summer, focus on recovery, see how I can improve,” Hellebuyck explained.
Hellebuyck was asked what could be done to help him, and he explained that it’s a “great question for Chevy. Complacency was getting us moving forward; something has to happen. Not going to throw anyone under a bus, I’m a goalie, and I know goaltending very well. [I] can’t say this forward or defense did that, not my spot. All you can ask is to give it your all every single night, to just put that same product on the ice, I don’t think it worked for a reason.”
-With files from Sportsnet
