Since the Winnipeg Jets returned to the NHL for the 2011-12 season, they have established themselves as one of the league’s top franchises in terms of success with a 519-381-95 record. During that span, they’ve consistently found competent netminders that have been able to keep them in games and never leave them with a weakness between the pipes.
We look back at which goaltenders have made the most impact since rejoining the NHL. We will be referring to the Jets’ second coming into the NHL at the start of the 2011-12 season as the Jets new era.
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5. Eric Comrie
Al Montoya could very well be at No.5 but Comrie is back with the Jets this upcoming season and should improve on his 12-8-1 record, goals against average of 2.94 and his decent .909 save percentage with the Jets. It’ll be challenging to see how many games he’ll appear in with newcomer Kaapo Kahkonen slated to take up the backup role with Laurent Brossoit leaving in free agency.
The netminders on this list mainly played backup for out top two but when Comrie was with the Jets he posted solid numbers like a 2.58 goals against average in 19 starts during the 2021-22 season. If he can replicate tthe numbers once again, he will firmly solidify his top five status.
4. Michael Hutchinson
The journeyman netminder has made an impact during his time with the Jets as he’s landed a 43-39-11 record with a goals against average of 2.65 and a save percentage of .910 in 102 career starts. He’s one of five goalies in the Jets new era to have registered a point as Hutchinson has found his way onto the scoresheet with an assist. The Barrie, ON. native was stellar during his time in Winnipeg with a goals against average under three in three of his four seasons with the team.
3. Laurent Brossoit
The new Blackhawks netminder is coming off a stellar season with the Jets, as Brossoit worked as a solid partner-in-crime for reigning Vezina trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck. He finished with a 15-5-2 record, a goals against average of 2.00 and a save percentage at .927 in 23 starts. It was the BC native’s second stint with the Jets and was the best season of his career. It rose his numbers with the Jets to a 2.51 average, a .917 save percentage and 40-24-5 record in 67 games.
When the Jets first came back, they got the services of the Thrashers’ Czech netminder who was growing into a solid option between the pipes. In the 2010-11 season, Pavelec finished with a disappointing 21-23-9 record but showed promise with a 2.73 goals against average and a .914 save percentage.
He would go on to start 260 games for the Jets over six seasons with the team that was highlighted by his 2014-15 campaign, which saw him finish with a 2.28 average and a .920 save percentage with five shutouts. He finished his Jets career with a 111-107-31 record, a goals against average of 2.80 and a .907 save percentage.
1. Connor Hellebuyck
The Winnipeg Jets all-time leader in games played (505), wins (275), shutouts (37) and career save percentage (.917) is the two-time Vezina trophy winner, Connor Hellebuyck. There is no debate for who is the best netminder of the Jets new era, let alone in the franchise’s history.
The Michigan native is still just 31 years old and could continue to improve on his stellar career numbers that have seen him play only for the Jets and could see him join the list of 39 other netminders who have won 300 games. His 275 wins have him seventh all-time in wins for an American-born goalie and has him 118 wins behind leader Jonathan Quick, who has 393 but in 275 more starts which means it should be within reach for Hellebuyck.
