4 Nations Face-Off: Why now is the time for Team USA's Connor Hellebuyck to shine

Eric Himmelheber

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck in the tunnel before the team's matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs (December 2024)Chris Tanouye/Getty Images/AFP

The 2025 4 Nations Face-Off will be in the spotlight for the next couple of weeks while the NHL season gets put on hold. But there's one storyline for Team USA that stands above the rest - can Connor Hellebuyck's excellence lead Team USA to win it all?

During a season as the starting goaltender for the NHL's best team in the Winnipeg Jets, Hellebuyck (31) himself is on his way to a possible back-to-back Vezina Trophy (best goalie), and his third ever.

His 34 wins, .925 save percentage, and 2.06 goals against average lead all goaltenders this season. Currently riding a six-game win streak heading into the 4 Nations, Hellebuyck is not only the hottest goalie right now but without a shred of doubt the strength of Team USA that could lead them to win the entire tournament.

While Canada undoubtedly has the weakest goalie trio of the four teams, with many fans questioning their selections, their forwards can make up for it on the scoring end. However, if Hellebuyck continues to play like the giant beast that he is in the net, then the US can prove everyone right who thinks they'll win it all.

Luckily, Hellebuyck also has arguably the best group of defensemen in front of him which includes, Charlie McAvoy (BOS), Brock Faber (MIN), Jaccob Slavin (CAR), Adam Fox (NYR), Noah Hanifin (VGN), Jake Sanderson (OTT) and Zach Werenski (CBJ).

But losing Quinn Hughes (BOS), who is arguably the best defenseman in all of hockey, after he decided to sit from the tournament due to a lingering injury could be a big blow to the team's defensive unit.

However, the veteran goalie has a track record for falling apart in games on the biggest stages, especially recently. The three-time All-Star is 2-8 in the past two years during the Stanley Cup Playoffs with an awful 0.875 save percentage and 4.33 goals against average.

Even worse, the goaltender has won just nine of 28 playoff starts. So if he does, the US has possibly the next best option possible in Jake Oettinger (DAL), who is having a great season for the Stars ranking sixth in goals against average and 14th in save percentage.

But it will be a thing of the past to many fans if the U.S. steps up with Hellebuyck at the center of it all as the NHL's current leader in shutouts (6).

"At this point, the season has started, let's go. I'm ready, I'm waiting," said Hellebuyck after practice on Monday.

"I've played against him a bunch for a lot of years. He's a super, super elite goalie. It's really fun having him on my side," said U.S. teammate Matthew Tkachuck.

Offensive help

However, a lot of Hellebuyck's success is also built on the Jets' scoring ability, a squad that leads the league in goals per game (3.61) and total goals (202).

Will the US forwards live up to that goal-scoring as well?

They include Auston Matthews, J.T. Miller, Brock Nelson, Jack Eichel, Jake Guentzel, Jack Hughes, Chris Kreider, Matt Boldy, Kyle Connor, Dylan Larkin, Vincent Trocheck, and, of course, the Tkachuck brothers in Brady and Matthew.

Of that group, Connor (30), who is also Hellebuyck's teammate in Winnipeg, and Guentzel (27) rank in the top 10 in the league in goals while Hughes is right behind (17th in the league) with 24 on the season.

Despite guys like Matthews, Miller, Nelson, and Eichel ranking outside the top 50 in goals scored this season, there's no doubt they're as capable of putting constant pressure on the other teams.

Adding to the fact that guys like Larkin and the Tkachuk brothers are there, not a single fan believes this US team will fail to score a lot during the 4 Nations Face-Off. So all eyes will be on Hellebuyck to hold down the rest.

"I always strived to be the best I possibly can and wanted to be one of the best in the world," said Hellebuyck. "So this is a good milestone for that and lets me know that I'm doing some of the right things to taking care of myself the right way."