Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets has received the 2019-2020 Vezina Trophy, which honors him as the best goaltender in the league.
Being considered one of the best goalies in the NHL is certainly nothing new for Hellebuyck, this is his second nomination for the trophy over the last three years. In 2018, Hellebuyck finished second in the voting. He posted 64 wins that season and a brilliant .924 save percentage with six shutouts.
Hellebuyck was just as good this year, even though his shining performance didn’t translate into wins as much as they did in 2018. One of the main reasons for that was that the Jets had a start-studded defensive group playing in front of Hellebuyck in 2018 that included Dustin Byfuglien, Jacob Trouba, and Tyler Myers, who all left the team at the end of the year.
However, Hellebuyck was back in elite form this year, posting six shutouts once against and a .922 save percentage. He becomes the first goaltender of the Winnipeg Jets to ever win the award and the first goalie from a Canadian team since Carey Price won the award in 2015 with the Montreal Canadiens.
Hellebuyck is also the first American-born goalie to win the award since 2011.
