Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has won the 2024-25 Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s Most Valuable Player.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
And as of today, the news is legit.
Winning the Hart as a goaltender is remarkable, winning it as a goalie in the smallest market in the NHL is unfathomable, and it is an accomplishment that will be celebrated for a very long time in Winnipeg.
Connor Hellebuyck joins rare company
Hellebuyck is only the eighth goaltender in the history of the NHL to take home the Hart Trophy, and since the early 1960’s, only three goaltenders have won it. Dominik Hasek (1996-97, 1997-98), Jose Theodore (2001-02), and Carey Price (2014-15).
The Jets’ goaltender finished the season with a record of 47-12-3, leading the NHL in wins. He also led the NHL in goals against average (2.00), shutouts (8), games played (63) and was tied for the league lead in save percentage (.925%).
His 47 wins were just one win short of matching the all-time wins record in a single season for goaltenders (48), set by Martin Broder in 2006-07 and matched by Braden Holtby in 2015-16.
He is also the third goalie in NHL history to have 45 wins and 8 shutouts in a single season, joining Martin Brodeur (2x) and Bernie Parent.
Hellebuyck led the Jets to their first Division title, finishing first place in the Central. Hellebuyck also led the Jets to their first-ever Presidents’ Trophy in franchise history as the NHL’s top team during the regular season.
Hellebuyck was surprised with the Hart and Vezina trophies at his home in Michigan, which all but confirmed the leaked photo of Hellebuyck posing with both trophies that was posted online a few days ago.
Leon Draisaitl was the runner up for the award, as Hellebuyck narrowly beat him out with 1,346 voting points to Draisaitl’s 1,209.
This incredible accomplishment undoubtedly cements the 32-year-old goalie as one of the best goalies of his era. If he can add a Stanley Cup to his resume, it’ll further assert his place among the best goaltenders of all-time.
Hart Trophy caps off award-filled 2024-25 for Hellebuyck
Hellebuyck winning the Hart Trophy means he won just about every award he possibly could in the 2024-25 regular season.
He also took home the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goaltender for the third time in his career.
From the NHL’s website: “Through the 1980-81 season, the Vezina was awarded to the goaltender(s) who played a minimum of 25 games for the team allowing the fewest goals during the regular season. In 1981-82, Billy Smith of the New York Islanders was named the first winner of the Vezina under the current system.”
Under the current system, since 1981-82, only four goaltenders have won three or more Vezina trophies.
Dominik Hasek, Martin Brodeur, Patrick Roy, and Connor Hellebuyck.
That is elite company for the Winnipeg Jets’ goaltender to be a part of.
He just narrowly missed out on being a unanimous winner of the award, as Tampa Bay Lightning netminder Andrei Vasilevsky received one first place vote.
Hellebuyck is also the first goaltender in NHL history to be the sole winner of the Hart, Vezina, and Jennings trophies all in one season. Carey Price won all three in 2014-15, but he split the Jennings with Corey Crawford, as both the Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks allowed 189 goals against that season.
In a season where Hellebuyck reached major goaltender milestones such as 500+ career games played, 300+ wins, and 40+ shutouts, the 2024-25 season will go down as his best, and one of the best goalie seasons in the history of the league
Hellebuyck has now gone three straight seasons with a SV% above .920, giving him five full seasons in his career above .920%. Hellebuyck will enter year two of a seven-year, $8.5M AAV extension in 2025-26 when the Jets return to action and he looks to follow up this remarkable year as the NHL’s MVP.
