Connor Hellebuyck Makes History with Rare Hart-Vezina Trophy Sweep
You know, there are moments in sports that just feel historic — and this is one of them. Connor Hellebuyck, the brilliant netminder for the Winnipeg Jets, has officially stamped his name into NHL lore by pulling off something incredibly rare: winning both the Hart Trophy as the league’s Most Valuable Player and the Vezina Trophy as the best goaltender in the same season. That’s not just elite — that’s generational.
Only a select few have ever achieved this rare combination. Since the NHL expanded in 1967, only a handful of goaltenders — names like Dominik Hasek, Carey Price, and Jose Theodore — have managed to claim both awards in a single year. And now? Add Connor Hellebuyck to that legendary list. What he accomplished this season is nothing short of phenomenal.
Let’s break it down. Hellebuyck led the NHL with 47 wins, tied for the second-most in league history. He also dominated with a goals-against average of just 2.00 and racked up eight shutouts. Out of his 63 appearances, he gave up two or fewer goals in 40 of them. That’s consistency, endurance, and excellence all wrapped into one. His .925 save percentage was second only to Anthony Stolarz — and that's with a much heavier workload.
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And it’s not just about stats — it’s about impact. Hellebuyck was the backbone of the Winnipeg Jets' historic season. Thanks to his heroics, the Jets secured their first-ever Presidents’ Trophy, awarded to the team with the best regular-season record. In the voting for the Hart, he received a whopping 81 first-place votes. That’s dominance. In the Vezina race? He nearly swept the board, getting 31 of 32 first-place votes from NHL general managers.
He also added his second straight William M. Jennings Trophy , awarded to the goalie on the team that allowed the fewest goals — and he won it solo , which is even more impressive considering how rare that is in back-to-back years.
And here’s what’s really wild: at just 32 years old, he already has three Vezina Trophies , tying Hall of Famers like Patrick Roy and Tony Esposito. He’s also second all-time among American goalies in shutouts (45) and fifth in regular-season wins (322). He’s not just having great seasons — he’s building a legacy.
Now, it’s true — the playoffs didn’t go the way the Jets hoped. They bowed out in the second round, and Hellebuyck’s postseason numbers didn’t quite match his regular-season brilliance. But that doesn't take away from what he accomplished over 82 games. Over the course of the season, no one — not a single skater, not a single goalie — did more to elevate their team.
Connor Hellebuyck didn’t just have a great season. He had a career-defining , era-defining season. And now, with a fresh seven-year deal and three major trophies in his cabinet, he's not just the face of the Jets — he’s become one of the defining players of this NHL generation.
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