Clay Stevenson
Clay Stevenson is Winnipeg's No. 2 goalie behind Stuart Skinner, and the Hellebuyck trade on Oct. 23 settled the top of the depth chart but added Nico Daws as a possible threat to the backup job.
Role
Skinner is the starter. He was listed for the Oct. 25 Heritage Classic against Montreal (Yahoo Sports line combinations, checked 26 October), and Skinner also started the Oct. 22 game at Dallas. Stevenson has played 3 games this season, all starts, and is 1-2-0 per our data (the figure we hold is 76 saves on 85 shots). His starts came on Oct. 5 at Pittsburgh, Oct. 10 against Anaheim and Oct. 17 against Carolina (pucky.com game log). Inside the Rink's projected lines for Oct. 25 list Skinner and Stevenson as the goalie pair. NHL.com reported that Daws, who came from New Jersey in the Hellebuyck deal, would likely be scratched because the Jets dress two NHL goalies. TSN reported GM Cheveldayoff's plan to carry three goalies: Skinner, Stevenson and Daws. The sources I found give no backup-start split or schedule rule, and I did not find a quote about how often Stevenson will play.
He has held the backup job since the Jets claimed him off waivers on Sept. 28, and Daily Faceoff said he and Skinner filled in admirably during Hellebuyck's absence. With Hellebuyck gone, Skinner and Stevenson are the two goalies in the lineup, so he keeps a regular share of starts. He has a 6-foot-4 frame and a strong AHL record with Hershey, and he won a Calder Cup in 2024.
The sample is small and the results are mixed: 1-2-0 in 3 starts, and his season save percentage is .893 per ESPN and pucky.com. The Anaheim game (12 saves on 16 shots) was a 5-1 loss. He is on the last year of an $800,000 contract. Before this season he had played only a handful of NHL games. Daws now sits behind him as an NHL-experienced alternative. ESPN also noted before the trade that his roster spot was not secure while Hellebuyck's return was possible. That risk has faded, but the Jets have not publicly said who ranks ahead of whom among Stevenson and Daws.
Where analysts split
The open question is whether Stevenson keeps the No. 2 job now that Daws is in the building. NHL.com says Daws is likely a scratch, while TSN reports a three-goalie plan. I found no analyst arguing either side directly, and no reporting on how backup starts will be divided.
Research confidence: thin. Outlooks are grounded in web search over current reporting and refreshed through the season.
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