Connor Hellebuyck insists he’s not getting caught up in expectations as the Winnipeg Jets prepare for the 2025-26 season.
The goaltender is coming off the best campaign of his career. He won the Hart Trophy and Vezina Trophy while leading the Jets to the league’s top regular-season record.
This year brings new challenges. Hellebuyck has a chance to represent the United States at the Olympics. He’s also looking to bounce back from a disappointing playoff performance.
“I’m kind of going into it as just another season, just another season,” Hellebuyck told NHL.com’s Dan Rosen on Wednesday.
“We’re continuing to build, but I don’t want to bring expectations into it. I think expectations kill. I’ve seen it enough. We’re a good team, but sometimes you don’t win when you expect to win, and you win when you don’t expect to win.”
The 32-year-old dominated regular season statistics last year. He led all goaltenders in wins, shutouts, goals against average, and goals saved above expected.
Hellebuyck became the first netminder in 10 years to win the Hart Trophy.
That success was overshadowed by his playoff struggles. He posted a .866 save percentage across 13 postseason appearances.
It marked the third straight year Hellebuyck recorded a sub-.900 save percentage in the playoffs. The narrative of not being a playoff performer has followed the goaltender, but he says he’s learned to manage the ups and downs better.
“I was always really good at controlling my emotions,” Hellebuyck said. “But there was always a point in the season where I would get burnt, have to get it off my chest with my goalie coach, and then we were back to square one.”
“Really just trying to keep all expectations off the table and go in with a fresh slate. We’re going to build our game the way we ended last year, put our best foot forward, and let everything fall into place.”
Hellebuyck has identified stress management as key to maintaining consistency throughout the season. The Jets will need that consistency if they hope to translate regular season success into playoff results.
