Winnipeg Jets netminder Connor Hellebuyck NHL's MVP and top goalie

Winnipeg Free Press

20 hours ago

Connor Hellebuyck thought he was out on the water for a relaxing day of fishing with his agent, angling for his latest catch.
When Ray Petkau suggested Hellebuyck turn the boat around to pick up his son, Hugh, to join in the outing, the Winnipeg Jets goalie had no reason to suspect he was being set up — in the best way possible.
'That was the excuse to go back to the house,' Hellebuyck said in a telephone interview from Michigan.
'Pulling into the dock, there was my best friend, my family, my brother and sister and their respective families. And then Eric (Comrie) showed up randomly.'
It turns out this wasn't a random pop-in and Comrie wasn't alone either.
Hellebuyck's backup and close friend was joined by some shiny hardware in the latest viral moment the NHL looked to capture as part of a new format to hand out its awards.
Not only did Hellebuyck receive his third Vezina Trophy as the top goalie in the NHL, he also became the eighth goalie in league history to be presented with the Hart Trophy, as the individual deemed to be the most valuable player on his team during the regular season.
The Hart Trophy is voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association and Hellebuyck earned 1,346 points (with 81 first-place votes, 45 second-place votes, 30 third-place votes, 22 fourth-place votes and five fifth-place votes, compared to 1,209 points for Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers and 973 for Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
TYLER TATE / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES
Connor Hellebuyck: This isn't just to celebrate me winning this award, it's a celebration of the team and what we've done together. Just a fantastic year.
TYLER TATE / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES
Connor Hellebuyck: This isn't just to celebrate me winning this award, it's a celebration of the team and what we've done together. Just a fantastic year.
'The way that they did it, showing up at my house, I was really not expecting that,' said Hellebuyck.
'I was just coming off the water from fishing — and I was just shocked about what was happening in front of me. The whole day and the whole process, I was very surprised and just in the moment. It was a true raw reaction.'
Hellebuyck put together a season for the ages in 2024-25, leading the NHL in wins (47), shutouts (eight) and goals against average (2.00) while sitting second in save percentage (.925) by .001 percentage points to Anthony Stolarz of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who made 19 fewer appearances.
The numbers were staggering and Hellebuyck's impact on the Jets' best season in 2.0 franchise history was undeniable, even if the team took tremendous strides in front of him when it comes to improved defensive play and making things more predictable for the All-World netminder.
FRED GREENSLADE / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) makes a save on a St. Louis Blues shot during third period NHL playoff action in Winnipeg, Monday April 21, 2025.
FRED GREENSLADE / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) makes a save on a St. Louis Blues shot during third period NHL playoff action in Winnipeg, Monday April 21, 2025.
'It's really surreal,' said Hellebuyck, who made 62 starts and appeared in 63 games.
'The team was playing great and we weren't really losing. There was a moment where me and Eric (Comrie) looked at each other and he said 'You haven't lost in two months.' When moments happen like that, it's just so crazy because that's not ever something that seems realistic.
'It goes back to what I always say: with team success comes individual success. I'm just so proud of the guys around me. This isn't just to celebrate me winning this award, it's a celebration of the team and what we've done together. Just a fantastic year.'
The fantastic year also includes becoming the 13th goalie in NHL history to win the Vezina three times.
Jacques Plante (7)Dominik Hasek (6)Bill Durnan (6)Ken Dryden (5)
Jacques Plante (7)Dominik Hasek (6)Bill Durnan (6)Ken Dryden (5)Terry Sawchuk (4)Martin Brodeur (4)Michel Larocque (4)Tiny Thompson (4)Connor Hellebuyck (3)Patrick Roy (3)Tony Esposito (3)Georges Hainsworth (3)
Hellebuyck's name was first on 31 of 32 ballots cast by NHL general managers who voted for the award, with Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning finishing second (and receiving one first-place vote) and Darcy Kuemper of the Los Angeles Kings placing third.
'It's kind of getting overshadowed right now, to be honest with you. It's another trophy on the shelf at this point, with the Hart being the main talking point,' said Hellebuyck.
'Looking back on it, there are only so many goalies that have won three of them. To have that opportunity is pretty rare.'
Though not as rare as winning the Hart Trophy as a goalie, which is something that hadn't been done since Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens accomplished the feat in 2014-15.
Dominik Hasek is the only goalie to win the Hart Trophy twice, in 1996-97 and 1997-98.
2024-25, Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets2014-15, Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens2001-02, Jose Theodore, Montreal Canadiens
2024-25, Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets2014-15, Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens2001-02, Jose Theodore, Montreal Canadiens1997-98, Dominik Hasek, Buffalo Sabres1996-97, Dominik Hasek, Buffalo Sabres1961-62, Jacques Plante, Montreal Canadiens1953-54, Al Rollins, Chicago Blackhawks1949-50, Chuck Rayner, New York Rangers1928-29, Roy Worters, New York Americans
'Not too many goalies even get considered for that (award). When that happens, you've got to take notice. For me, it was always about being the best goalie in the world and to win a Stanley Cup. The Hart doesn't usually go along with those two goals,' said Hellebuyck.
'It takes a really special season and something that stands out from most of the others. That being said, I've still got my mind on the Stanley Cup. That's all that's left and that's really what I'm looking forward to for the next goal. It's the reason I train.
'That's what I enjoy about sports. Once you're there, you're not set there. Just because you're there today doesn't mean that you're there tomorrow. I might be considered the best today, but tomorrow I've got to prove it again. That's what really excites me. Staying ahead of the curve is what keeps me really driven and really into it.'
That Comrie was on hand to present the trophies was fitting, since he was a huge advocate and often he mentioned Hellebuyck and the Hart Trophy during the second half of the season whenever he was interviewed.
'For a goalie to win the Hart Trophy is one of the most rare things you can do. It was well deserved and I was just so happy to be part of it,' said Comrie.
'It's just unbelievable to see. He was so dialed in every single game. Every single game he gave the team a chance to win and it was so impressive to see. Having a front row seat to that was just incredible. It was spectacular, it was special. To see what he did every single night. I was in awe and shocked all the time. Watching the video and seeing how easy he made it look.'
ADRIAN WYLD / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES
Connor Hellebuyck had plenty of reasons to celebrate during the most-successful in Jets 2.0 history.
ADRIAN WYLD / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES
Connor Hellebuyck had plenty of reasons to celebrate during the most-successful in Jets 2.0 history.
That Hellebuyck was first in the voting in such a strong field of candidates is a testament to the work he has put in since the Jets chose him in the fifth round of the 2012 NHL Draft.
'It shows you how special his year was. I'm just so happy for him because it was truly deserved and it was truly earned,' said Comrie, who shared the net with Hellebuyck in the American Hockey League before both players eventually graduated to the NHL.
'I don't think it's a surprise for anybody. You could see right from the start that he was special, that he was different. He's got a big body, he moves well and he has all of the intangibles. He was ready to go right away and it was impressive to see. Look at his college numbers, look at his American Hockey League numbers, look at his numbers all the way through where he's played. It's as elite as elite gets and it's continued all the way to the NHL.'
Although the playoff run didn't end up the way the Jets wanted, Hellebuyck acknowledged the strides the group was able to take in rallying to win Game 7 of the first round against the St. Louis Blues in double overtime after facing a 2-0 deficit and pushing the Dallas Stars to six games in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Advancing to the second round for the first time since 2021 and reaching six postseason victories after accumulating two in the previous two playoff runs was another important step forward for Hellebuyck and the organization.
'Looking back on it, I can't believe that I let it be such a roller-coaster ride, to be honest with you,' said Hellebuyck, who was pulled for the first three times of the post-season against the Blues, but made the dramatic finish in Game 7 possible and posted a pair of shutouts on home ice against the Stars.
'I'm not super happy about how I handled it, but I am happy that I was able to build my game out of that and really start to break down my game and really learn what it's going to take for myself and the team to get to the next level. I've been building that for years, but this playoff run showed me what it's going to take to be at my best, every single day and every single night, regardless of what happens on the ice.
'We can definitely use this as a learning experience and we're going to build off of this. The guys in the room are already building off it. I'm looking forward to next season already.'
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Ken Wiebe is a sports reporter for the Free Press, with an emphasis on the Winnipeg Jets. He has covered hockey and provided analysis in this market since 2000 for the Winnipeg Sun, The Athletic, Sportsnet.ca and TSN. Ken was a summer intern at the Free Press in 1999 and returned to the Free Press in a full-time capacity in September of 2023. Read more about Ken.
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