Connor Hellebuyck’s Historic Achievements
In an unprecedented achievement, Connor Hellebuyck from the Winnipeg Jets has become a member of an exclusive group by winning both the Hart Trophy for Most Valuable Player and the Vezina Trophy for best goaltender in the same season. This extraordinary feat was recognized during the NHL awards ceremony held on Thursday night, making Hellebuyck just the sixth player in league history to accomplish this double win.
Hellebuyck’s historic feat places him alongside legendary players such as Jacques Plante, Dominik Hasek, Jose Theodore, and Carey Price, who also achieved this rare combination of accolades.
Accomplishments and Competition
Making history yet again, Hellebuyck is now only the eighth goalie to receive the Hart Trophy. However, it’s vital to note that prior to 1981, the Vezina Trophy was not voted on, and thus goalies like Roy Worters, Chuck Raynor, and Al Rollins, who won the Hart in earlier years, never earned the Vezina during those seasons.
With his most recent Vezina victory being his third in six years, Hellebuyck finds himself in elite company, joining legends such as Patrick Roy, Dominik Hasek, and Martin Brodeur as the only goaltenders to win the award more than twice since the voting began in 1981.
During the Hart Trophy voting, Hellebuyck was up against tough competition, including Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers and Nikita Kucherov from the Tampa Bay Lightning. In the Vezina Trophy category, the competition included Darcy Kuemper of the Los Angeles Kings and Andrei Vasilevskiy, also from Tampa Bay.
Remarkable Season Performance
Hellebuyck’s performance throughout the regular season was remarkable, serving as a foundational player in the Jets’ impressive feat of achieving 116 points, which secured them the Presidents’ Trophy. The 30-year-old was dominant in the net, leading the NHL with 47 victories—nine more than the next best goalie—while also tallying eight shutouts and maintaining an impressive 2.00 goals against average.
His .925 save percentage placed him just below Anthony Stolarz, who had a .926. What makes Hellebuyck’s statistics even more noteworthy is that he played a hefty 63 games, contributing significantly to his team’s success. His combined efforts yielded an extraordinary 49.48 goals saved above expected, making this the third-highest recorded since 2007. His consistency shone through, as he maintained a save percentage of 900 or greater in 71% of his starts, leading the league in this category.
Additional Honors and Historical Context
In addition to the Vezina, Hellebuyck was also honored with his second consecutive William M. Jennings Trophy—awarded to the goaltender for the team that allows the fewest goals in a season—placing him as the sole winner this time due to Winnipeg’s backup goalie not meeting the threshold for games played. Hellebuyck is the first goaltender to win the Jennings Trophy alone in back-to-back seasons, further enhancing his storied career.
At the age of 32, Hellebuyck finds himself making strides in the historical aspects of NHL performance, already accumulating 322 wins, ranking fifth among U.S.-born goalies, and 45 career shutouts, which is second among American goalies behind Jonathan Quick.
Playoff Challenges and Future Prospects
Nonetheless, his exceptional regular season was overshadowed by another early exit in the playoffs, where he struggled with a sub-par save percentage for the third time consecutively in postseason play. The Jets were unexpectedly eliminated in the second round by the Dallas Stars. Hellebuyck’s fellow Vezina finalists, Kuemper and Vasilevskiy, also faced early-round playoff exits, highlighting a challenging postseason for top goaltenders.
Recently, Hellebuyck entered the first year of a seven-year contract extension worth $59.5 million, signed in 2023, securing his future with the franchise.
