Connor Hellebuyck Bio
Connor Charles Hellebuyck (born May 19, 1993) is an American professional ice hockey player who serves as a goaltender for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL). Hellebuyck began his professional career in 2014 after being selected by the Jets in the fifth round, 130th overall, of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Known for his outstanding goaltending skills, Hellebuyck is a Hart Memorial Trophy winner as the league’s most valuable player, a three-time Vezina Trophy winner as the best goaltender in the league, and a two-time William M. Jennings Trophy winner for allowing the fewest goals against.
Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 207 pounds, Hellebuyck has established himself as one of the premier goaltenders of his generation. He plays a critical role for the Winnipeg Jets and has also represented the United States in international competition, helping the team win a bronze medal at the 2015 World Championship.
Early Life and Background
Connor Charles Hellebuyck was born on May 19, 1993, in Commerce Township, Michigan, to parents Chuck and Erin. His father Chuck is a technical training engineer, while his mother Erin is an artist and children’s book author. Hellebuyck is the middle of three siblings, and his older brother Chris also played hockey before retiring in the 2016-17 season.
Hellebuyck completed his high school education at Walled Lake Northern High School in Commerce Township, Michigan, where he developed his goaltending skills on local rinks. His family’s strong support and his early exposure to the sport helped him build a foundation for his future career, leading him to pursue competitive junior hockey.
Path to Hockey
After completing his high school career, Hellebuyck played one season of junior hockey with the Odessa Jackalopes in the North American Hockey League (NAHL). During his time in Odessa, Hellebuyck transformed from a virtually unknown prospect into a top draft candidate, eventually being selected by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
Hellebuyck then earned a scholarship to play for the UMass Lowell River Hawks in the NCAA Men’s Division I Hockey East Conference. Over two seasons, he played 54 games, compiling an impressive 38-12-2 record with a .946 save percentage, 1.60 goals against average, and 12 shutouts. In his freshman year, he won the Hockey East Championship and made a Frozen Four appearance. The following season, Hellebuyck became the only player in Hockey East history to be named tournament MVP twice, and he was awarded the inaugural Mike Richter Award as the top goaltender in college hockey for the 2013-14 season.
Connor Hellebuyck Career
Early Career (2014-2016)
Hellebuyck signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Winnipeg Jets on April 5, 2014, and was immediately assigned to the St. John’s IceCaps, the Jets’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate. He began the 2014-15 season sharing the net with Peter Budaj but quickly became the IceCaps’ starter by mid-November, earning his first professional shutout and being recognized as the CCM/AHL Player of the Week. Hellebuyck finished his rookie AHL season with a 28-22-5 record, 2.58 goals against average, and 0.921 save percentage, and he was selected for the 2015 AHL All-Star Game.
Following the 2014-15 season, the IceCaps moved to Winnipeg and were renamed the Manitoba Moose for the 2015-16 season. Hellebuyck began the season in the starting role with Eric Comrie as his backup. On November 27, 2015, he made his NHL debut against the Minnesota Wild, stopping 15 shots in a 3-1 win. Later that month, on December 27, Hellebuyck recorded his first NHL shutout in a 1-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, marking the Jets’ first shutout of the season.
NHL Breakthrough (2016-2018)
Hellebuyck attended the Winnipeg Jets training camp ahead of the 2016-17 season and made the team’s opening night roster alongside Michael Hutchinson. Wearing jersey number 37 in honor of Dan Snyder, Hellebuyck finished his rookie season with a 26-19-4 record through 56 games, becoming the Jets’ primary starter. On July 24, 2017, the Jets re-signed Hellebuyck to a one-year contract worth $2.25 million.
During the 2017-18 season, Hellebuyck became the de facto starter for the Jets after Steve Mason struggled with injuries. He recorded 23 wins through 35 games and was named an NHL Star of the Week twice. Hellebuyck was also selected to the 2017 NHL All-Star Game for the first time alongside teammate Blake Wheeler. He finished the season with a 44-11-9 record in 67 games, setting the record for the most single-season wins by an American goaltender in the NHL, surpassing Tom Barrasso. He also set a franchise record with nine shutouts and was named a Vezina Trophy runner-up.
Winnipeg Jets Era (2018-Present)
In the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs, Hellebuyck made his playoff debut in the Jets’ first-round series against the Minnesota Wild, recording two shutouts to lead Winnipeg to its first playoff series win in franchise history. He then set another franchise record by making 47 saves in Game 1 of the second round against the Nashville Predators. After the Jets were eliminated, Hellebuyck signed a six-year, $37 million contract extension.
During the 2019-20 season, Hellebuyck was named to his second NHL All-Star Game and won his first Vezina Trophy on September 21, 2020, becoming the first goalie in Winnipeg Jets/Atlanta Thrashers history to win the award. The 2023-24 season brought additional accolades, as Hellebuyck received the William M. Jennings Trophy and his second Vezina Trophy after the Jets allowed a league-low 199 goals. In the 2024-25 season, he posted 47 wins and a 2.00 goals against average, leading the league in both categories, and on June 12, 2025, he was announced as the winner of both his third Vezina Trophy and first Hart Trophy, becoming the first goaltender to win the Hart since Carey Price in 2014-15.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hellebuyck is widely recognized for his calm, technically sound approach in goal. His size and athleticism allow him to cover the lower portion of the net effectively, and his ability to track the puck through traffic makes him especially strong against high-danger chances. His consistent positioning and quick reflexes have made him a reliable foundation for the Winnipeg Jets’ defensive structure.
Notable Events and Milestones
On January 7, 2025, Hellebuyck earned his 300th career win in a 5-2 victory over the Nashville Predators, becoming the third-fastest goaltender in NHL history to reach that milestone. Earlier in his career, he set a Jets/Thrashers franchise record for most shutouts with 18, surpassing Ondrej Pavelec. His 47 wins in the 2024-25 season further cemented his place among the league’s elite goaltenders.
Connor Hellebuyck Career Wins
Across his professional career with the Winnipeg Jets organization, Connor Hellebuyck has accumulated over 300 regular-season NHL victories, including a franchise-record 44 wins in 2017-18 and a league-leading 47 wins in 2024-25. He has also earned multiple shutouts in both regular-season and playoff games, contributing to some of the most successful stretches in Jets history.
NHL Highlights
Hellebuyck’s first NHL win came on November 27, 2015, against the Minnesota Wild, when he stopped 15 shots in a 3-1 victory. His most recent milestone win, his 300th career victory, came on January 7, 2025, against the Nashville Predators. He has earned two shutouts in the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs and led the Jets to their first playoff series win in franchise history.
Other Wins and Performances
In the AHL, Hellebuyck was a CCM/AHL Player of the Week during his rookie season and was selected for the 2015 AHL All-Star Game. Internationally, he helped the United States win a bronze medal at the 2015 World Championship, posting a 7-1-0 record with a 1.37 goals against average and a .948 save percentage.
Connor Hellebuyck Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Hellebuyck was raised in Commerce Township, Michigan, by his parents Chuck and Erin. His father works as a technical training engineer, while his mother is an artist and children’s book author. His older brother, Chris, also played hockey before retiring in 2016-17, giving the family a strong athletic background.
Personal Life
Connor Hellebuyck and his wife Andrea have two children together. In 2023, Hellebuyck co-authored two children’s books about mental health with Thom Van Dycke titled “Bucky Beats the Blues” and “Is Something Wrong With Weasel?” His family continues to reside in the Winnipeg area during the NHL season.
2025 Season Performance
During the 2024-25 NHL regular season, Connor Hellebuyck posted 47 wins and a 2.00 goals against average, leading the league in both categories. The Winnipeg Jets allowed only 191 goals across 82 games, and Hellebuyck received the William M. Jennings Trophy for the second consecutive year. He was also a finalist for the Vezina Trophy for the fifth time and, for the first time, a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy.
On June 12, 2025, Hellebuyck was announced as the winner of both his third Vezina Trophy and first Hart Trophy, becoming the first goaltender to win the Hart since Carey Price in the 2014-15 season. His dominant season helped establish the Jets as one of the top teams in the NHL, though the postseason ended in disappointment as Winnipeg was eliminated in the early rounds.
Looking ahead, Hellebuyck started the 2025-26 season strong, posting an 8-6-0 record with a 2.51 goals against average and a .913 save percentage through 14 games. On November 22, 2025, he underwent arthroscopic knee surgery to repair an injury from training camp and was expected to be out around four to six weeks. He returned earlier than expected on December 13, 2025, posting a .960 save percentage against the Washington Capitals.