Hellebuyck up for Hart Trophy
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Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck has been named a finalist for the Hart Trophy for the first time of his career.
As the NHL revealed the three players up for the award that is given to the player who is the most valuable player to their team, Hellebuyck was joined by centre Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers and winger Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Hellebuyck led the National Hockey League in most statistical categories this season, including wins (47), shutouts (eight) and goals-against average (2.00), and was second in save percentage by .01 to Anthony Stolarz of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who played 19 fewer games.
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) makes a save on a St. Louis Blues shot on April 21. (Fred Greenslade / The Canadian Press files)
Hellebuyck is only the third goalie to be named a Hart finalist in the past 10 seasons, after Sergei Bobrovsky of the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2016-17 and Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers in 2021-22.
Only three goalies in the league’s expansion era have won the Hart — Dominik Hasek of the Buffalo Sabres (1996-97 and 1997-98), José Theodore of the Montreal Canadiens (2001-02) and Carey Price of the Canadiens (2014-15).
The NHL previously announced Hellebuyck was a nominee for the Vezina Trophy, awarded to the league’s best goaltender. He has been a finalist for that award five times in the past eight seasons, winning the 2020 and 2024 trophies.
Kucherov won the Art Ross Trophy with 121 points, while Draisaitl captured the Rocket Richard Trophy as the NHL’s top goal scorer (52) and was tied for third in the NHL with 106 points.
Hellebuyck and the Jets resume their opening-round series with the St. Louis Blues on Friday with a 3-2 series lead after a 5-3 win Wednesday night and will look to move on to the second round with a victory.
ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca
History
Updated on Thursday, May 1, 2025 10:57 AM CDT: Minor changes to league history references
Updated on Thursday, May 1, 2025 12:07 PM CDT: Minor edits