Jets come up just short at 2018 NHL Awards

LAS VEGAS, Nevada - Three members of the Winnipeg Jets organization had a chance to take home some hardware at the NHL Awards Wednesday night at the Hard Rock Hotel.
But despite memorable - and even record-breaking - performances during the season, general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff, captain Blake Wheeler, and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck will leave Vegas with only memories of an enjoyable awards experience.

Wheeler, who finished the 2017-18 campaign with career-highs in assists (68) and points (91) was edged out by Vegas Golden Knights defenceman Deryk Engelland for the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award. The trophy, given out by Messier himself, is presented to the player who best exemplifies leadership on and off the ice, as well as community involvement.

Hellebuyck finished the night in second spot in the voting for the Vezina Trophy as the league's top goaltender. Hellebuyck's 44 regular season wins were tied with fellow finalist Andrei Vasilevskiy of Tampa Bay for the league lead, and also set a new record for wins by an American-born goaltender. The award is voted on by the National Hockey League's 31general managers, with Hellebuyck receiving seven first-place votes, 14 second-place nods, and five third-place tallies. Pekka Rinne - who had eight shutouts this season - picked up 22 first-place votes en route to his first Vezina Trophy.
Cheveldayoff came just as close as Hellebuyck, coming in second for the General Manager of the Year Award to Vegas' George McPhee. Cheveldayoff's Jets finished with a franchise-record setting 52 wins and 114 points, and that helped him earn eight first-place votes from a panel that includes NHL general managers, executives, and media members. In addition to those votes, Cheveldayoff had 20 second-place votes, and another seven third-place nods.

That wasn't all, as Wheeler and Hellebuyck also finished eighth and 13th respectively in the voting for the Hart Trophy (awarded to the league's most valuable player in the regular season).
Wheeler and fellow right wing Patrik Laine finished second and fourth in voting by the Professional Hockey Writers Association for NHL All-Stars at that position, while Hellebuyck finished second in goaltender All-Star nods.
While they weren't finalists for their respective awards, two members of the organization were narrowly outside the final three as well.
Rookie Kyle Connor, who finished the season with 31 goals and 57 points, was fourth in Calder Trophy voting for rookie of the year, which was won by New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal.
Head coach Paul Maurice also finished fourth in the voting for the Jack Adams Award, given to the coach judged by the NHL Broadcasters' Association to have contributed most to the success of his team.