With the crowning of a new Stanley Cup champion on the horizon, let's look back at the regular season and recognize players who have roots or connections to the region for our 2017-18 “Jaffe’s Take” All-New England Team.
Connor Hellebuyck | G, Winnipeg Jets | UMass Lowell
Selecting our All-Star goalie was pretty easy this year. Hellebuyck's season was nothing short of spectacular. After earning 39 wins in his first two seasons, this year he tied for first in the NHL with 44 wins. He had six shutouts, good for second place. This was a guy who really worked on his game in the offseason, focusing on body control and core strength. And it paid immediate dividends. He helped take the Jets from a really good team to a great team by providing a bedrock in net. He's big, he's strong, he's focused and nothing seems to bother him. He's the perfect goalie for the high-flying Jets.
