Connor Hellebuyck may have punched Hall of Fame ticket with USA gold-medal win

Maybe he was already on his way even before this. But if he wasn't, you can probably start making some room for Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg Jets) in the Hockey Hall of Fame after helping to backstop the United States to a gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics, capped off with Sunday's 2-1 overtime win against Canada. 

Hellebuyck was not only the best goalie in the tournament, but he further cemented his status as one of the best goalies of his era, one of the best goalies of all-time, and perhaps on his way to being one of the best American-born players in the history of the sport. 

Gold-medal game is a legacy-defining game for Connor Hellebuyck

Hellebuyck has been no stranger to individual success throughout his career.

Entering this season, he had already put himself in exclusive company among goaltenders by winning three Vezina Trophies, making him one of just 13 to ever win that many. It is also important to note that in the early days of the award, it was simply given to the goalies that played on the team that allowed the fewest goals in a season, accounting for several of those multiple-time winners. 

He is also one of just eight goalies to have ever won the Hart Trophy as the league's MVP.

The individual accomplishments and hardware are nearly unprecedented. 

But the one thing that has always eluded him to this point has been any sort of major team success, having never won a Stanley Cup or major international competition. Some of that, as it relates to his NHL play, was due to his own shortcomings in some postseasons in recent years. Some of it is the simple fact that he has always played in poorly constructed, significantly flawed teams that did not have the supporting cast a great goalie needs to win.

In this tournament, everything that was necessary came together for him and his team to succeed. He had the supporting cast, and he played some of the best hockey of his career on one of the biggest stages imaginable. 

For the tournament, he allowed just six goals in the five games he played, finishing with a .956 save percentage. 

When it came to the knockout portion of the tournament, he backstopped the Americans to a pair of 2-1 overtime wins (against Sweden in the Quarterfinal and against Canada in the gold medal game) and saved his best play for the decisive, championship game. 

Simply put, the United States does not win this game without Hellebuyck.

Not just for the fact he stopped 41 out of 42 shots, but also the manner in which he stopped them, with none more memorable than this desperation stick save early in the third period of a tie game.