JETS' CONNOR HELLEBUYCK WINS SECOND VEZINA
There was very little doubt heading into Thursday’s NHL awards, and when the votes were finally tallied, Connor Hellebuyck ran away with the second Vezina Trophy of his career.
The league’s 32 general managers voted the Winnipeg Jets netminder as the league’s top goalie by a landslide in Vegas, adding his name to the trophy for the second time in five years.
“This is a huge honour,” Hellebuyck said from the stage after accepting the award. “It’s an honour just being in the same conversation as (fellow finalists Thatcher Demko and Sergei Bobrovsky) and your elite status.”
Hellebuyck thanked his family, friends, the Jets organization, including goaltending coach Wade Flaherty, and his teammates.
“This is an individual award, but it’s not won individually,” Hellebuyck said.
Finally, Hellebuyck thanked the Jets fans who showed up to the awards show, drawing cheers.
“Your support is so appreciated when we need you guys,” he said.
The 31-year-old finished with 31 first-place votes. Florida’s Bobrovsky received the other first-place vote and finished third, with Vancouver’s Demko second.
Hellebuyck also finished sixth in Hart Trophy voting as the league’s MVP, receiving one first-place vote, four seconds and three thirds.
Hellebuyck finished top five among NHL goaltenders in wins (2nd: 37), shutouts (T-5th: 5), save percentage (2nd: .921), goals-against average (4th: 2.39), games played (3rd: 60), shots against (2nd: 1,798), saves (2nd: 1,656) and minutes (3rd: 3,567).
He made 60 appearances this past season, allowing three goals or fewer in 50 of them, including two 10-game streaks allowing two or fewer.
Hellebuyck also helped the Jets to their first William M. Jennings Trophy for fewest goals allowed during the regular season with 199, one fewer than the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.
Analytically, Hellebuyck led the league in goals saved above expected in all situations (33.1) and 5-on-5 (28.2).
The 2012 fifth-round pick first won the award in 2020 after a remarkable, albeit COVID-shortened, 2019-20 campaign. He’s been a four-time finalist, losing out to Nashville’s Pekka Rinne in 2018 and Ottawa’s Linus Ullmark last year.
The Commerce, Mich., product becomes the 23rd goalie in NHL history to be honoured on multiple occasions and just the third American goalie after Frank Brimsek (2) and Tim Thomas (2).
Meanwhile, Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey finished seventh in Norris voting, receiving 19 third-place votes, 16 fourth-place votes and 23 fifth-place votes.
X: @scottbilleck
2024-06-28T00:15:13Z dg43tfdfdgfd
