{"id":462256,"date":"2026-02-18T17:31:15","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T17:31:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/462256\/"},"modified":"2026-02-18T17:31:15","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T17:31:15","slug":"olympics-could-erase-trade-what-ifs-and-hellebuyck-choker-tag","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/462256\/","title":{"rendered":"Olympics Could Erase Trade What-Ifs and Hellebuyck ‘Choker’ Tag"},"content":{"rendered":"

Connor Hellebuyck<\/a> has spent years building an ironclad case as one of the NHL\u2019s most dominant regular-season goaltenders. He has three Vezina Trophies, a Hart as MVP, and is, basically, a statistical monster. Yet the narrative that follows him into every spring is the same: he struggles in big games, his numbers fade in the playoffs, and that ugly \u201cchoker\u201d label rears its ugly head.<\/p>\n

Mark Lazerus put it bluntly<\/a> in his Feb. 18 Athletic article, noting: <\/p>\n

\u201cNo label is more offensive to a professional athlete than that of \u2018choker.\u2019 It\u2019s a term that\u2019s probably too harsh for Hellebuyck, who is not solely to blame for the Jets\u2019 inability to get past the second round\u2026 But it\u2019s not far off, either.\u201d <\/p>\n

Over the last three postseasons, Hellebuyck posted a .872 save percentage in 23 games (39th among qualifiers), allowed 13 more goals than expected (dead last), while the Jets scraped out just one series win. The scrutiny lands heaviest on Winnipeg\u2019s best player.<\/p>\n

Enter the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics. Entering elimination games, Hellebuyck is having fun while changing the narrative about his play in big contests. He\u2019s 2-0 with a tournament-leading .952 save percentage, 1.00 GAA, and 40 saves on 42 shots against Latvia and Germany. Teammates like Dylan Larkin<\/a> call him \u201ca gamer\u201d they\u2019d trust in any net. \u201cI just love his confidence, I love his calmness,\u201d said Matthew Tkachuk<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s exactly what you want in a No. 1 goalie.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"ConnorConnor Hellebuyck Jets playoffs<\/p>\n

A deep run\u2014or better yet, Olympic gold\u2014could be the triumph Lazerus says is needed to \u201crip off\u201d the choker label. <\/p>\n

Jets\u2019 Seller Mode Meets Hellebuyck\u2019s Olympic Performance<\/p>\n

For Winnipeg, this Olympic spotlight couldn\u2019t come at a worse (or better?) time. The Jets are embracing seller status ahead of the March 6 deadline. Their playoff odds are hovering around 5-8%, and they have a higher chance at the top pick than a postseason berth. Veterans like Luke Schenn<\/a>, Logan Stanley<\/a>, Gustav Nyquist<\/a>, and possibly others are in play for picks\/prospects.<\/p>\n

Hellebuyck? He\u2019s the untouchable cornerstone\u2014locked in long-term, MVP-caliber talent. But if the Jets fully commit to a rebuild (or if playoff hopes evaporate entirely), his name could surface in \u201cwhat-if\u201d conversations. A pending UFA in a few years, massive cap hit, and that lingering playoff rep make him a fascinating asset for contenders desperate for a proven No. 1.<\/p>\n

If he \u201cchokes\u201d against Sweden or Canada, does that change the way the Jets see him? Probably not, but stranger things have happened.<\/p>\n

Then again, Olympic dominance flips the script. Success in Milan makes trading him unthinkable\u2014why move your franchise goalie when he\u2019s proving he can finally handle pressure? Even if everything else in Winnipeg is going sideways, Hellebuyck becomes the one thing the Jets can depend on. A strong showing throughout the Olympics gives GM Kevin Cheveldayoff leverage to keep the core intact for one more push, with Hellebuyck the face of that push.<\/p>\n

If Hellebuyck shuts down Sweden, advances to semis, chases gold\u2014the \u201cchoker\u201d label fades, trade what-ifs evaporate, and Hellebuyck returns to Winnipeg with only one question on his mind: how do the Jets get better for next season?<\/p>\n

Next: Team USA\u2019s Lineup Choices Don\u2019t Make Any Sense<\/a><\/p>\n

\tDiscover more from NHL Trade Talk<\/p>\n

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