Goalie Connor Hellebuyck and winger Mark Scheifele of the Winnipeg Jets inked seven-year contract extensions at an average of $8.5 million a year.
Gentille: Long-term deals for two of the Jets’ most iconic players always felt like the best course of action from the team’s perspective, as
the team like to be immobile, for better or worse. However, that did not make them inevitable. Scheifele and Hellebuyck have opinions on
the topic. At this critical personal and professional crossroads, both are thirty years old. It would have made sense to decide to begin
playing games, observe how things work out, and maintain the freedom to go on.
Currently, however, it is intended that both will finish their careers in Winnipeg, if not entirely. This would be a simple place to ding the
franchise; if the components remain the same, how is the meal meant to change? Still, the Jets have won overall, especially with regard to
Hellebuyck. He has been the main factor supporting this team’s playoff chances for the greater part of ten years. Proficient goalies, such as
Hellebuyck, are rare breeds of goalies. Fans would still have a reason to go without him, but they wouldn’t believe that the games they pay
to watch had any lasting significance. For a franchise that debuted
All we can conclude about Hellebuyck’s side of the story is that he received what he desired: long-term security and a yearly remuneration
that reflects his true value. Only two goalies who participate in games the next season will earn more, and he will remain at that amount
until he is 38 years old. Hellebuyck is also “a father, a planner (who) has the courage to name the Cup as his ultimate goal,” according to
Murat Ates of The Athletic in September. Two of those factors appear to be instantly drawn to the offer. We’ll see how the entire Cup thing
plays out, but in the end, it is his business.
