Andrei Vasilevskiy is back on top of NHL Network’s goaltender rankings, and Connor Hellebuyck has slid out of the No. 1 spot after a rough 2025-26 season.
NHL Network’s annual list heading into the 2026-27 season now has the Tampa Bay Lightning netminder in first place, with the Winnipeg Jets’ Hellebuyck dropping to No. 2 after holding the top position last year. For Hellebuyck, it’s a notable fall for a goalie who has stacked up trophies and elite seasons, but whose most recent year fell far short of his usual standard.
The numbers tell the story. Hellebuyck, a three-time Vezina Trophy winner and a recent Olympic gold medalist, finished 2025-26 with a 23-23-11 record, a 2.86 goals-against average and a .895 save percentage, which was a career-worst mark. Trade speculation also hovered around him for much of the summer.
That stands in sharp contrast to the stretch that put him at the top in the first place. Over his back-to-back Vezina-winning seasons, Hellebuyck went 84-31-7, produced a 2.19 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage, and led all goaltenders in wins by a wide margin.
The source also notes that the 27-year-old Edmonton native projects as a capable backup behind Hellebuyck for now, though he would be ready to step into a starting role if Winnipeg ends up moving its longtime starter. Even with the down year, evaluators are still hesitant to count Hellebuyck out because of everything he’s already shown.
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