Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck named finalist for Vezina Trophy

WINNIPEG, July 17, 2020-The Winnipeg Jets Hockey Club, in conjunction with the National Hockey League, announced that Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is among the three finalists for the 2019-20 Vezina Trophy, which is awarded "to the goaltender adjudged to be the best at his position".

Hellebuyck, 27, backstopped the Jets to a place in the Western Conference Stanley Cup Qualifiers, leading all goaltenders in games (t-58), shots faced (1,796), saves (1,656), and shutouts (6). The Commerce, Michigan native ranked second overall in starts (56), wins (31), and minutes (3,268:33). Hellebuyck recorded 31 of the 37 Jets wins (83.8%), the second-highest percentage among goaltenders on the 24 teams set to resume play.

Hellebuyck faced 37-or-more shots on 13 occasions and posted a 10-1-2 record, 2.08 goals-against average, and a .949 save percentage in those contests. That includes a career-high 51 saves in a 3-2 win at San Jose on Nov. 1/19 where he set the franchise record for saves in a period with 27 in the second frame.

Hellebuyck, Winnipeg's fifth round pick (130th overall) in the 2012 NHL Draft, is a Vezina Trophy finalist for the second time in three seasons (runner-up in 2017-18) and is seeking to become the first goalie in Jets/Thrashers franchise history to win the award.

The winners of the 2020 NHL Awards will be revealed during the Conference Finals, with exact dates, format and times to be determined.