Carter Brooks Winnipeg Jets Postgame Report Laurent Brossoit has had himself a whirlwind of a past two years. Originally a sixth-round draft pick of the Calgary Flames, Brossoit actually got his start with the Edmonton Oilers, before joining the Winnipeg Jets as the team's every-day backup in advance of the 2018-19 season. He joined the team shortly after Winnipeg made its first big postseason run - the year to which it went all the way to the Western Conference Final, losing to Vegas in the process. Brossoit stuck around Winnipeg for three full seasons, before he opted for greener pastures. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. He signed with the Golden Knights and by the end of his second season he had a ring on his finger and his name engraved on the Cup. But it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows, as he'll tell you. Battling back from hip surgery, paired with joint recoveries from groin and core muscle surgeries, Brossoit was falling apart - mainly physically, but slightly mentally. Following his first full season with Vegas (to which he played in 24 games), the now 31-year-old began feeling extreme pain in his mid-to-lower body. He ultimately needed multiple surgeries to repair some of the damage done from the day-to-day tasks fulfilled by that of goaltenders. "The other big motivator was that I was waiting to get the surgery for so long, and at no point did I ever feel like I was about to get worse because I was already feeling better from the surgery," Brossoit said. "Last year I proved that, playing without pain and all of a sudden instead of working every day to keep my head above water, I’ve been able to work on my craft. That’s been so fun, to be honest." He had his procedures done, but part of the recovery included a stint in the minors, where he suited up for a good portion of the season with the Henderson Silver Knights. The stretch of time - his first in the AHL since the 2017-18 season - was a "humbling" experience. "It can be a little bleak down there, after having been up for as long as I have," Brossoit said. "But looking back, hindsight is 20/20, I'm extremely grateful that I went down and I got to shake off all the rust after a surgery and not do it on the big stage, because there were still lots of things I had to get to to get my game back. It was a good, humbling experience." "My future wasn't all that clear at the time and I knew I had something to prove. I would say necessity is the biggest motivator someone can have and it felt like it was absolutely necessary to put everything into getting back on the ice and playing well and being seen by someone, enough to get another opportunity." He made the most of it and actually earned his shot with Vegas in advance of their playoff push. Brossoit took to the crease against his former teammates and helped Vegas take down Winnipeg 4-1 in the opening round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He did, once again, get hurt and was forced out of action in favour of Adin Hill. However, the damage was done and his mates came through, helping Brossoit and the Knights earn the Stanley Cup last June. Shortly after, he came back home to Winnipeg for another shot at it in a familiar city. "It’s been a blessing to be here," he said. "Of all the places I could have come to after a year like last year, I’m pretty happy that it was here. It’s a lot of familiar faces, a lot of familiar teammates and staff and what not. The familiarity provided a lot of comfort which provided a lot of healing. I was coming into the season off that injury and to be able to have that home feel helped the process quite a bit." The season, Brossoit has a 13-5-2 record to go alongside a stellar 2.10 goals against average and a .925 save percentage with two shutouts to his name. "I’m enjoying the game again and the results are starting to take care of themselves and I’m feeling better on the ice. "I’m feeling better consistently. It’s not good days and bad days. I’m feeling like the same goalie every day." He will now compete with 31 others for the Masterton Memorial Trophy - as selected by the team's individual PHWA chapter. The award is presented annually to the player who best exemplifies qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to the game. It is named after Bill Masterton - the lone NHL player to ever die following a direct injury sustained on the ice.
