It’s been a week since the Gold Medal game and the USA victory. So, now is a better time to have a fair and mild reaction to Connor Hellebuyck’s performance and put his career into context. The performance in the Olympics was impressive but it doesn’t deserve an overreaction, which the immediate aftermath provided. Is Hellebuyck the most accomplished goaltender in the NHL? The big three names to come to mind are Hellebuyck, Andrei Vasilevskiy, and Sergei Bobrovsky. When stacking up all three, Vasilevskiy stands out as the best and most accomplished active goaltender in the game. To get there, here’s the quick argument for the other two.
Related: Ice Time: 6 Closing Thoughts on the Olympics
The Argument for Hellebuyck
Hellebuyck has put together the best peak of any modern goaltender. From 2023-24 through the present, he’s been the best goaltender in the NHL, and there isn’t a close second. In 2024-25, the year he won the Vezina Trophy and the Hart Trophy, he had 41.6 goals saved above average. He wasn’t just better than the rest of the NHL; he lapped the field.
This season was a rough one for Hellebuyck but he’ll be remembered for his Olympic performances. He allowed only six goals in five games, with only three goals being of consequence. In the Gold Medal game, he stopped 41 of 42 shots and led the USA to Gold. It’s the best-on-best stage where the pressure is highest, and he delivered.
The Argument for Bobrovsky
Bobrovsky has the most hardware among active goaltenders. He won two Vezinas with the Columbus Blue Jackets and then won the Stanley Cup twice with the Florida Panthers. Oddly, Bobrovsky has put together two different careers where he’s stood out.
With the Blue Jackets, he was the best regular-season goaltender in the NHL; ironically, he was Hellebuyck before Hellebuyck arrived. Then, with the Panthers, he became the best postseason goaltender. Sure, he’ll struggle during the season but when he needs to put together a great game, he’s the best goaltender in the NHL, and the recent playoff runs have proven it.
Why Vasilevskiy is the Most Accomplished
Vasilevskiy has been the best in the league for longer. He’s done it all and never had the down years either. Like Hellebuyck, he has a Vezina and like Bobrovskiy, he has the two Stanley Cups. Better yet, Vasilevskiy has the more impressive playoff run, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2021 in a run with the Tampa Bay Lightning that featured shutouts in all four series-clinching games.
When comparing him to Bobrovsky or Hellebuyck, Vasilevskiy wins the argument against both. He’s had the playoff success and won the Cup, something Hellebuyck hasn’t done, plus he hasn’t had the down years, something Bobrovsky’s had a few of, especially lately.
Sure, he doesn’t have a Gold Medal or international success. In fairness, some of that is out of his control. Moreover, the Olympics are a one-off and aren’t considered when comparing elite goaltenders. The Olympics were six games, and a lot of randomness can happen in a single best-of-five game. The case in point is Jordan Binnington, who stood out in the Four Nations but nobody would say Binnington is an elite goaltender because of it (on the contrary, many see him as a bottom-of-the-league goaltender).
Would A Cup Change The Conversation for Hellebuyck?
It might. Right now, Hellebuyck’s career is comparable to Carey Price’s. Both won the Vezina, the Hart, and a Gold but came up short in the playoffs. Hellebuyck has three Vezina Trophies and has accomplished everything except winning in the playoffs. So, adding that to his resume makes a good argument but he must do it first.
In the long run, Hellebuyck might win a Cup, especially if he ends up on a team built for a playoff run. Until then, his playoff woes will be held against him, and it’s why he’s behind Bobrovsky and Vasilevskiy in the pecking order. It’s one thing to put together six strong games in the Olympics; it’s another to put together a playoff run that features weeks of exhausting hockey. Hellebuyck has yet to do that.
Yes, the Olympics were impressive, and the Gold Medal game was one of the best performances considering the stage and the pressure. Yet, he’s still not as accomplished as the other greats in the NHL right now.
