Jets’ Connor Hellebuyck wins 2024-25 Vezina Trophy

It marks the second year in a row that Hellebuyck has won the award, becoming the first masked man to accomplish the feat since New Jersey Devils legend and Hockey Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur took home the trophy in 2007 and 2008.

Since the current criteria for the Vezina was adopted in 1981, only three other goaltenders have won the award in back-to-back campaigns. Brodeur and fellow Hall of Famers Patrick Roy and Dominik Hasek also earned the distinction as the NHL’s top goaltender in back-to-back years. Hellebuyck certainly has put himself in a rare air of excellence.

Seemingly from the start of the season, the Commerce, Michigan native was a heavy favorite to win the Vezina as the league’s top netminder, thanks to an incredible campaign. He led the league in wins (47), save percentage (.925), goals-against average (2.00) and shutouts (8) during the regular season. Hellebuyck was also awarded the William M. Jennings Trophy for the fewest goals allowed for the second straight season, another feat that hasn’t been done since Brodeur won the award in 2003 and 2004.

The 32-year-old’s play led Winnipeg to its best season in franchise history, setting a team record with 56 wins. It led to the Jets winning the President’s Trophy as the best team in the regular season for the first time. Unfortunately, it didn’t lead to a deep postseason run, as they were eliminated in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Dallas Stars in six games.

Hellebuyck has been a constant between the pipes in Winnipeg since he entered the league back in 2015-16. He took the starting job and has never looked back. He helped the team make it as far as the Western Conference Final in 2018 and has backstopped the Jets to the postseason seven times in his career.