Connor Hellebuyck Wins Hart Trophy and Vezina Trophy
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has been awarded the prestigious NHL Hart Trophy for the 2024-25 season, an award that recognizes the most valuable player for his team. Hellebuyck, a veteran in goal, becomes the third goaltender in the last decade to be a finalist for the Hart and the first to win it since Carey Price in 2015.
In addition to the Hart Trophy, Hellebuyck also took home the Vezina Trophy, which crowns him as the best goaltender in the NHL. This is the third time in his career that Hellebuyck has obtained this distinction (2020, ’24), solidifying his position as one of the most outstanding goaltenders in the league. Both awards were presented during the league’s awards ceremony, held on Thursday before Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final. During the broadcast, a video of Hellebuyck’s family surprising him with the trophies at his home in Michigan was shown.Hellebuyck had a dominant regular season for the Jets, leading the league with 47 wins. Winnipeg, fueled by his performance, secured first place in NHL points, winning the first Presidents’ Trophy in franchise history. Hellebuyck also led qualified goaltenders in shutouts (8) and goals against average (2.00), with the second-best save percentage (.925). Hellebuyck’s season included an eight-game winning streak and an 11-game point streak (9-0-2). Despite the success in the regular season, Hellebuyck’s performance in the playoffs did not translate into progress for Winnipeg. He had a 6-7 record in two rounds, with a save percentage of .866 and a goals-against average of 3.08. Hellebuyck was substituted three times in the Jets’ first-round series against St. Louis, which Winnipeg eventually won in seven games. Subsequently, the Jets were defeated by Dallas in the second round. The NHL also announced the winners of other major awards, each with its own award ceremony. Nikita Kucherov, forward for the Tampa Bay Lightning, was awarded the Ted Lindsay Award, given to the league’s most outstanding player as voted by the players. Kucherov, who led the league with 84 assists in the regular season, was also a finalist for the Hart Trophy. Aleksander Barkov, forward for the Florida Panthers, received the Selke Trophy, which recognizes the league’s best defensive forward. It was Barkov’s third Selke win (2021, ’24), who helped Florida achieve top 10 rankings in goals against per game (7th), shots against per game (5th), and penalty kill efficiency (10th). Barkov also won the King Clancy Trophy, awarded to the player who “best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a notable humanitarian contribution in his community.” Cale Makar, defenseman for the Colorado Avalanche, won the Norris Trophy, awarded to the defenseman who demonstrates the greatest overall skill. It was Makar’s second Norris win of his career after a regular season in which he led all NHL defensemen with 30 goals and 92 points. Lane Hutson, defenseman for the Montreal Canadiens, won the Calder Trophy, awarded to the league’s most outstanding rookie. Hutson led all rookies with 66 points, and his 60 assists tied Larry Murphy for the NHL record in a first-year player season. Anze Kopitar, forward for the Los Angeles Kings, took home the Lady Byng Trophy, awarded to the player who best exemplifies gentlemanly conduct. He is the tenth skater to win the award three times in this career (2016, 2023). Kopitar was assessed only two minor penalties in the regular season, while collecting 21 goals and 67 points. Washington Capitals coach Spencer Carbery won the Jack Adams Award, given to the coach who contributed most to his team’s success. Carbery, in his second season at the helm of the Capitals, led Washington to a 51-22-9 record and first place in the Eastern Conference. Alexander Ovechkin, Capitals forward, won the Mark Messier Award for Leadership.Looking back, I will probably remember this day as one of the greatest of my career.
Connor Hellebuyck
