EDMONTON – Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets is the 2019-20 recipient of the Vezina Trophy, awarded “to the goaltender adjudged to be the best at his position,” as selected by NHL general managers.
Hellebuyck received 19 first-place selections in amassing 123 voting points, edging second-place Tuukka Rask of the Boston Bruins (99 points), a first choice on 10 ballots. Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning ranked third with 31 points.
Hellebuyck (31-21-5, 2.57 GAA, .922 SV%) backstopped the Jets to a place in the Western Conference Stanley Cup Qualifiers as the No. 9-ranked team, leading all goaltenders in games (t-58), shots faced (1,796), saves (1,656) and shutouts (six). He ranked second overall in starts (56), wins (31) and minutes (3,268:33). The 27-year-old Commerce, Mich., native recorded 31 of the 37 Jets wins (83.8%), the second-highest percentage among goaltenders on the 24 teams that resumed play. Hellebuyck faced 37-or-more shots on 13 occasions and posted a 10-1-2 record, 2.08 GAA and .949 SV% in those contests, including a career-high 51 saves in a 3-2 win at San Jose Nov. 1 in which the Jets were outshot 53-19.
Hellebuyck, a Vezina Trophy finalist for the second time in three seasons (2nd in 2017-18), is the first goaltender in Jets/Thrashers history to capture the award.
For more on the Vezina Trophy, including a list of past winners, click here.
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