Hellebuyck of Jets wins Vezina Trophy as top goalie in NHL

LAS VEGAS – Winning the Vezina Trophy for the second time gave Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck a second chance at a couple of things.

Hellebuyck, who also won the award given to the NHL’s top goalie in 2020, forgot to thank his offseason goalie coach Randy Wilson that time. He made sure not to make that mistake again on Thursday night at the 2024 NHL Awards at Fontainebleau Las Vegas.

“It was nerve-racking just making sure I didn’t miss anyone this time,” Hellebuyck said.

Becoming the 23rd goalie to win the Vezina Trophy multiple times also gave Hellebuyck the opportunity to celebrate with some friends and family at the NHL Awards. He missed out on that when there was no ceremony in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Just having those guys around, I think they might enjoy it more than I do, just because they’re not around this every single day,” Hellebuyck said. “I at least play the game, so I get a touch of it here and there. Just having them around, it means the world to me, because I really wouldn’t be here without them.”

This was the fourth time Hellebuyck was a finalist for the Vezina, which is voted on by NHL general managers. The 31-year-old was the runner-up in 2018 behind Pekka Rinne of the Nashville Predators and finished third last season, when Linus Ullmark of the Boston Bruins won the award.

This season, Hellebuyck beat out fellow finalists Thatcher Demko of the Vancouver Canucks, who finished second in the voting, and Sergei Bobrovsky of the Florida Panthers, who finished third.

Hellebuyck and Bobrovsky, who won the Vezina in 2013 and 2017, are the only active goalies to win the award more than once.

“It really hasn’t sunk in yet,” Hellebuyck said. “If I had to be fully honest, it’s kind of a stepping stone for what I want to be, the best in the world. So it was kind of showing me I’m doing right. I’ve had a lot of people around me that have been helping me along the way, so I know it feels good for them that they’re doing right with me as well, and I look forward to celebrating with all those people.”

Hellebuyck went 37-19-4 with a 2.39 goals-against average, .921 save percentage and five shutouts in 60 games this season for the Jets. He ranked second among NHL goalies in wins, second in save percentage and fourth in GAA. He made the second-most saves (1,656), behind Juuse Saros of the Nashville Predators (1,672).

Hellebuyck also won the William M. Jennings Trophy, presented annually to the goalies or goalie who play a minimum of 25 games for the team allowing the fewest goals during the regular season. Winnipeg allowed an NHL-low 199 goals (including shootout-deciding goals) and finished second in the Central Division (52-24-6).

“I think we made really big strides this year,” Hellebuyck said. “We changed our identity a little bit and we brought a solid, winning philosophy to Winnipeg, and I think our fans and I think our team bought in. And just that all-around buy-in, I’m pretty proud of that.”

After Hellebuyck struggled in the Stanley Cup Playoffs (1-4, 5.23 GAA, .870 save percentage) and the Jets lost to the Colorado Avalanche in five games in the Western Conference First Round, he’s had some time to reset mentally and has already begun getting ready for next season.

“I kind of washed out everything that I needed to figure out,” Hellebuyck said. “Now, I’ve just started skating and kind of ramping it back up for another year. There’s only one thing left on my mind, and that’s the Stanley Cup, so anything I can do to get there, I’m going to start doing.”

Hellebuyck said he’s looking forward to working with new Jets coach Scott Arniel, who was promoted from associate coach after Rick Bowness retired after the season.

“It’s very exciting,” Hellebuyck said. “The phone call that I had with him was very encouraging. I want him to know how bought in I am and how much I am looking forward to having him coach us.”

2023-24 Vezina Trophy Voting

Points (1st-2nd-3rd)

1. Connor Hellebuyck, WPG 158 (31-1-0)
2. Thatcher Demko, VAN 70 (0-20-10)
3. Sergei Bobrovsky, FLA 40 (1-8-11)
4. Igor Shesterkin, NYR 7 (0-1-4)
5. Juuse Saros, NSH 5 (0-1-2)
6. Linus Ullmark, BOS 3 (0-1-0)
7. Jeremy Swayman, BOS 3 (0-0-3)
t-8. Charlie Lindgren, WSH 1 (0-0-1)
Ilya Sorokin, NYI 1 (0-0-1)

* 5-3-1 points allocation (1st-2nd-3rd-4th-5th)