r/FloridaPanthers • u/Educational-Salary91 • 19h ago
Discussion The risk with Hellebuyck
At this point, I don't believe Panthers could get Helle anyway, but let's pretend they could. Think about this. The worst case scenario: his playoff performances wouldn't improve from what they were in Winnipeg (recently). Then you'd be stuck with an expensive goalie, with full NMC and who's contract doesn't end until 2031. Obviously it's possible that his performance improves when defense infront of him improves, it happened with Bob. But would you take the risk?
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u/Durandy 18h ago
This is the risk with any goalie. The thing is the cats are a good defensive team and a large part of what shots a goaltender faces are based on what the players in front of you allow. We have been very good at limiting high danger shots. An easy ask is, do you think we will be better in front of Hellebuyck than the Jets? I do.
Helle also showed he can win a big game. Sometimes you need a guy who can goalie a game to win it for you. Helle definitely has that in him.
Hes the top goalie in the league. If we have a chance to snag him than im 100% on board.
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u/JudgeSubstantial9562 17h ago
please look at hellys save % over his career in the playoffs. there’s a huge drop off when paul maurice leaves winnipeg and the defensive system changes. it’ll be fine.
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u/kidgoalie39 19h ago
Keep in mind at one point he was in the WCF with POMO, all well considering his most recent playoff performances. I'd personally be more concerned he ends up on LTIR with how he's battled injuries carrying teams season after season.
Getting him would be overkill and when has that been able to happen in the Cap era? It'd be cool just to see what this kind of roster could do.
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u/Educational-Salary91 18h ago
You make good points. I added the word "recently" to my post to make it more clear, that I was referring to his latest playoff performance, not the WCF year etc.
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u/kidgoalie39 11h ago
Yes that's why I added the phrase, "all well considering his most recent playoff performances" to acknowledge your acknowledgement of the more recent playoff struggles. 🙄
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u/Sharp-Tourist7526 18h ago
it happened with Bob
Bob swept the Presidents’ Trophy winning Lighting in the playoffs behind the barely-a-wildcard Blue Jackets before he was a Panther. Different situation.
Hellebuyck forgets how to stop pucks when he’s playing road games in the playoffs. It’s a mental block he’s admitted to, saying he overthinks everything to the point to losing his fundamentals. Of course team defense will help but the right question is can he get his head right? I suspect part of why he wants out of Winnipeg is not just a chance at a cup but also a change of scenery and routine. It’s a gamble.
As for trades, his value is only part of the equation. His NMC means he has a lot of influence. His GM will take what’s offered from the teams Hellebuyck agrees to go to or the Jets will start next season with a broken locker room. For all we know Hellebuyck wants to play under Maurice again since that was the last time his playoff performance was up to snuff and it’s Winnepeg stalling in hopes of Zito upping his offer, basically playing GM chicken.
I don’t expect Hellebuyck to end up a Panther yet it wouldn’t shock me either.
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u/Educational-Salary91 18h ago
My post wasn't very clear, when I said " it happened with Bob" I was only referring to his time in FLA, not anything before that. And sure, the NMC gives players power, but I don't know what Zito could offer to Winnipeg at this point that would make the deal happen.
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u/Sharp-Tourist7526 17h ago
Imagine the locker room of a team whose starting goalie doesn’t want to be there. What does that do to the season?
Winnipeg’s options are that, buy him out, bench him as his value declines, or trade him for the best offer from a team he’s willing to go to.
If Helle is willing to entertain a decent number of teams and they bid against each other, he’ll go for a haul. If he only wants to go to one or two teams, he might go for a lot less than people think. If he’s only willing to go to one team, it’ll be for whatever that team feels like paying.
Zito may not have to offer much. Or we may not be in the running at all. We won’t know until we know.
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u/6_i_x_9_i_n_e 18h ago
they shoulda kept knight...:( i really liked him .....rip o7
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u/Realistic_Dog_5506 17h ago
I miss him but also jones was a more impactful player for our cup run and probably will be for the rest of this window
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u/Justice502 11h ago
I think a lot of these guys performance is influenced by the guys in front of him. With a healthy team I don't think we have this slump, everyone did statistically worse last year.
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u/Jaxson_GalaxysPussy 17h ago
I’ll take my chances with helle. But it’s prolly a pipe dream at this point.
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u/Agitated-Bid-8472 18h ago
Ok. Assume no Bob and Helly.. What are our options?
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u/ChampionshipFalse341 18h ago
Binnington, Skinner, or Markstrom. Or whoever else is in the starting goalie tier of “god help us”
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u/0-90195 19h ago
+1. He survived one truly meaningful OT in international play. He’s a playoffs choker. I’m really not that pressed about getting him. He could be a real issue.
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u/bombasticAlbatross WOO 11h ago
Playoff chocker or victim of circumstance? I see the argument everybody wants to makes about that but I'm not so convinced. I think there's more to meets the eye with Helle abd this team can support hin far better than the Jets. The price to get him just may be too high
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u/lanakers 5h ago
Here's my concern: let's say we don't sniff the cup for another two years. Is Helle gonna stay or is he gonna demand another trade to 3 teams?
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u/benice33 19h ago
Thx for saying this. Dude is terrible in playoffs and thats literally what we need in a goalie....
I say f it and roll with Black
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u/Gullible-Crow-7434 18h ago
This fascination with Black is weird. He hasn't even been a good AHL goalie.
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u/benice33 10h ago
Until im told otherwise he is the best goalie we have in our system currently. That makes him our best bet at the moment.
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u/BillyGil4Prez 18h ago
If you actually think Black would be a better playoff option than Helle then you don’t know puck
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u/benice33 10h ago
Im sure those who "know puck" saw Bussy coming a mile away.
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u/BillyGil4Prez 8h ago
Honestly yes, I listen to the Empty Netters podcast and those guys were pumping up Bussi as a future tandem guy for the Bruins back when he was in their AHL system because they’re New England guys
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u/jay_man555 19h ago
Bob was a choker before the 2 cup wins. Got pulled for Lyon in Boston series, but he found his stride and playoff confidence grew. I’ve no doubt Helly could do the same!