Connor Hellebuyck is tired of chasing the National Hockey League (NHL) for clarification on the rules relating to obstruction of goaltenders.
That’s what the masked man from the Winnipeg Jets expressed to the media on Monday, the day after a 7-4 victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
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During this duel, a goal from Brandon Hagel was allowed, even if there seemed to be obstruction on Hellebuyck. The Jets contested, but the NHL ruled that no infraction had been committed, under Rule 69.7. WATCH IN MAIN VIDEO.
The latter states that “in a rebound situation, or when a goalie and one or more attackers simultaneously attempt to play a loose puck, whether inside or outside the semi-circle, accidental contact with the goalkeeper will be authorized, and any goal scored following this contact will be validated.
For Hellebuyck, Hagel’s success should have been canceled.
“Accidental contact is going towards the puck and maybe pushing the pad or touching the glove or something around the puck,” he said. When you miss the puck and you push the goalie a meter into the back of the net, it’s no longer an accidental contact.
“Just when I thought we were making progress, they make this decision,” added the 2023-2024 Vezina Trophy winner.
Hellebuyck has also been criticizing inconsistencies around the rules on obstruction of goalkeepers for a long time. Two years ago, he notably made a 45-minute presentation to the NHL competition committee to try to explain what, in his opinion, should or should not be considered an illegal gesture in this regard.
“I just tried to discuss it with them. I don’t think it led anywhere.”
“I’ve done my best to help over the last four or five years, and I’m getting to a point in my career where I’m a little more family oriented,” Hellebuyck also said. If this doesn’t move forward, I may have to give way to the next person, pass the torch. I tried to help, I tried to make it clearer.”
