I'm sorry but 1 good season (with a disappointing performance against vegas) does not justify a 6 year commitment. 1. Just remember how ugly Pavs last few years were with the Jets and how it stifled the Jets playoff chances. Helle earned a new contract no doubt, but lets not forget he was in a contract year...highly motivated. 2. Helle is not a goaltending prodigy. 3. He is not in the same category as Price or Lundqvist in their primes. Those types of goalies you can make a 6 year commitment to with a high degree of confidence. 4. If Helle had shown multiple seasons of elite goaltending it would be justified. But 1 year? Lets not forget Mason was brought in last year to be the starter. 5. Jets had little faith in Helle.....and to reverse all of that based on 1 season of play is being overly optimistic.
6-7. 3-4 years max. Even if it means having to sign him again in his potential prime with a raise its better than this enormous gamble.
Chevy loves to gamble with goalies.... the one position you should never gamble with.
1. Pavelec had one good playoff run in the AHL and got a contract based largely on that. Apart from that, he had been an unimpressive goalie at all levels. Hellebuyck has been great at all levels he has played at, now including a Vezina finalist position in his second year as a starter in the NHL.
2. Hellebuyck is arguably the best goalie in NCAA history. He has been elite at every level he has played at, now including a Vezina finalist position in his second year as a starter in the NHL.
3. Lundqvist's prime years started when he was 27. Price's prime years started when he was 26. Hellebuyck is currently 25.
4. Hellebuyck is arguably the best goalie in NCAA history. He has been elite at every level he has played at. He has 1 below average season at any level since his draft year.
5. Hellebuyck was offered a one-year show-me contract. He showed them by becoming a Vezina finalist in his second year as a starter in the NHL.
6. By signing Hellebuyck to a three-year contract, Chevy would have made it possible for Hellebuyck to leave the team for free agency at 28. Meaning if he had performed very well, it would have been in his best interest to either leave Winnipeg, which would have left us in a situation where we don't have a reliable starting goalie, or...
7. Sign a back-breaking contract with us because we are relying on his elite goaltending, similarly to what happened with Price and Lundqvist. That would be an enormous gamble. Signing Hellebuyck to what is the 16th highest salary/cap ratio at the time of signing of goalies in the league is comparably not a very big gamble.
I think that about covers it. Yes, there is risk in this contract. There is inherent risk in any goalie contract.