NAHL alum Hellebuyck signs contract extension

Connor Hellebuyck played in the NAHL during the 2011-12 season and won both the NAHL Goaltender of the Year and Rookie of the Year Awards during that season.

The Winnipeg Jets Hockey Club announced they have agreed to terms with goaltender and NAHL alum Connor Hellebuyck on a seven-year contract extension with an average annual value of $8,500,000. The extension will begin in the 2024-25 season.

Hellebuyck, 30, was drafted by the Jets in the fifth round (130th overall) in the 2012 NHL Draft. The Commerce, Mich. native is entering his ninth full season with the Jets. Hellebuyck finished as a finalist for the Vezina Trophy last season, an award he won in 2020 and was also a finalist in 2018. He finished last season top-five among NHL goaltender in wins (T-3rd: 37), save percentage (T-4th: .920) and shutouts (T-5th: 4).

Hellebuyck has rewritten the franchise record book for goalies during his time with the Jets. He leads franchise goalies in career games played (445), wins (238), shutouts (32), and saves (12,465). Hellebuyck also leads the franchise in single-season wins (2017-18: 44), shutouts (2017-18 and 2019-20: 6), and saves (2021-22: 1,962). Since 2017-18, Hellebuyck leads all NHL goaltenders in games played (363) and saves (10,412), ranks second in wins (199) and third in shutouts (26).

Hellebuyck has also been recognized for his performance by being named to three NHL All-Star Games (2018, 2020, 2023), he was an NHL First All-Star in 2020 and an NHL Second All-Star in 2018.

Internationally, Hellebuyck has represented the United States at two World Hockey Championships, highlighted with a bronze medal in 2015.

Hellebuyck began his junior hockey career with the NAHL with the Odessa Jackalopes in 2011-12. He won 26 of the Jackalopes 27 overall wins that season, and propelled the Jacks to a playoff berth in their first season in the NAHL. Hellebuyck raked in the hardware that year as well. Hellebuyck was named Goaltender of the Year, Rookie of the Year, All-NAHL First Team, All-South Division Team, and NAHL All-Rookie Team during that storybook season. Hellebuyck was also the Jackalopes first ever Division I college commit, signing his letter of intent to play at UMass-Lowell.

In the community, Connor is active with Project 11 in Winnipeg and particularly their mental health awareness initiatives. Connor worked with author Thom van Dycke to write a children’s flipbook called “Bucky Beats the Blues / Is Something Wrong with Weasel”. The book raises awareness about mental health and its sales raise money to help support the cause.