Goaltender Laurent Brossoit is set to take the reins in Winnipeg.
The Winnipeg Jets brought back a familiar face in netminder Laurent Brossoit as free agency opened on Saturday.
Signing the goaltender who served as the team's backup for three seasons from 2018-21, Winnipeg's front office knows very well the kind of player who is set to go to battle for the Jets in 2023-24.
"It was definitely a quick turnaround, but very excited to rejoin some friends and what I consider a second home in Winnipeg.”
Brossoit, who is coming off a Stanley Cup victory in the final season of his two-year contract with the Vegas Golden Knights, knows the Jets organization and is ready to take on a larger role in his return to Manitoba.
"I felt the familiarity coupled with the fact we’re retaining a lot of guys in Winnipeg and it’s going to be a little bit different then when I was there last time, that excited me," he said. "A little bit more opportunity for me to win starts and be a bigger part than I was last time. Those were big key points for me.”
Agreeing to a one-year deal worth $1.75 million, Brossoit is betting on himself to have another solid year with a shot at landing the starter's gig, as No. 1 goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is expected to make his way out of town prior to the 2024-25 season.
“I want to come in and have a full, healthy, strong season and show everyone what I can do - and that I can be put into the situation that I’ve always felt I can achieve. That bona fide starting position and that’s kind of the goal - and I don’t really want to wait longer than one year after this for that. That’s my goal for this season, to prove to Winnipeg and to prove to everyone and anyone who would value me that I can be one of the best (goalies) in the league.”
Hellebuyck and Brossoit were a tandem for three seasons, to which the former started 163 of a possible 208 games, winning 89 times (55 percent). Brossoit, on the other hand, made 45 starts, winning 25 of them (.56 win percentage).
Between the 2018-19 and 2020-21 seasons Hellebuyck and Brossoit's winning percentages were near identical. But it was the number of games played that heavily favoured Hellebuyck.
In 45 starts, Brossoit went 25-19-3. In 163 starts, Hellebuyck went 89-61-11.
"I’m going to push Helly," Brossoit said of his expected role with the Jets. "He’s obviously the guy that has been trusted there for a long time and he’s a good friend of mine, but I’m going to push him like I did when I was here last. Hopefully we can both be better for it and have the strongest tandem in the league, and the more opportunity I can earn the better."
With rumours continuing to circulate involving Hellebuyck's future with the club, Brossoit made it clear that he is ready to take on a timeshare with whom he called one of the most "consistent" goaltenders in the league.
"Connor, he's probably one of the smartest goalies," Brossoit said of his net-mate. "He's very meticulous. He's very methodical in what he does and he probably has the best hands in the league. He tracks the puck better than anyone, I would say. On an open shot, it's really tough to beat him the way he plays. He's very big and he uses his size but he doesn't over-move very often."
Clearly the brotherhood runs deep.
In Vegas, Brossoit was one of five netminders to see action for the league-champ Golden Knights this past season. Despite a number of unfortunate injuries and rehab assignments, the 30-year-old B.C. product put up a 7-0-3 record in the regular season, before picking up five wins the playoffs before suffering a groin injury.
“It was pretty special," he said of winning the Cup with Vegas. "It goes by so fast, I would say. You dream about it your whole life and then all of a sudden, it’s gone in the blink of an eye. It’s towels in your face for when you’re lifting it. The camera guys all over and then, all of a sudden, it’s over.
"I want another kick at it, not because of the towel in the face, but because I want to be the guy in the net at the end of it. Not that I didn’t enjoy it. I soaked it up. But there’s definitely some room there for extra satisfaction.”
Hungry to be 'that guy', Brossoit will look to take over the starter's crease from Hellebuyck - one way or another - as the offseason kicks into high gear.