The contract will pay Hellebuyck $6.167 million annually, beginning in the 2018-19 season.
The 25-year-old product of Commerce, MI. put together the finest season of his career in 2017-18, racking up 44 wins (30 of which came on home ice) to go along with just 11 regulation losses and nine overtime/shootout defeats.
Hellebuyck held a 2.36 goals against average and a .924 save percentage to go along with six shutouts in 67 games this past season. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound netminder now holds Winnipeg’s single-season records for wins, shutouts and save percentage.
The former fifth round draft pick (Winnipeg, 2012) went 9-8 in the 2018 postseason, with two shutouts, helping the Jets to their first ever appearance in the Western Conference Final.
As an RFA that elected for salary arbitration, Hellebuyck would have had to have his case presented at an arbitration hearing later this month. In avoiding that step, only four Jets who did elect for arbitration remain unsigned.
Leading the way is Jacob Trouba, followed closely behind by Adam Lowry, Marko Dano and Brandon Tanev – all of whom are priorities to General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff. Re-signing defencemen Josh Morrissey and Tucker Poolman also remain important issues, while locking up forward Nic Petan is also a must.
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