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National Post
13-06-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Superstar Jets goalie Hellebuyck casts wide net, winning Hart, Vezina trophies
Connor Hellebuyck didn't come back with any fish, but still landed two major NHL awards. Article content The Winnipeg Jets goaltender, with 47 regular season wins, won the Hart Trophy as the most valuable player and the Vezina as the NHL's top goaltender Thursday night in a new-age awards show. Article content Article content Hellebuyck was surprised by his parents, children and extended family when he docked his pleasure craft after a solo fishing trip at the family's Michigan cottage while cameras rolled. While they all posed with the Vezina, his Jets backup Eric Comrie suddenly appeared, asking where the 'other' trophy was. Hockey Hall of Fame officials then brought out the Hart. Article content Hellebuyck had 81 first-place votes to runner-up Leon Draisaitl's 53, as tabulated by the Professional Hockey Writers Association, though he surely would've swapped places with the Edmonton Oilers centre starring in the Stanley Cup final. His victories represented just under 84% of the Jets' 56 wins, though after the voting he had road game hiccups in Winnipeg's two playoff series. Article content Winger Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning, winner of the Ted Lindsay Award as the MVP voted on by players, edged Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon for third place. Article content 'I saw someone in my yard and was confused,' Hellebuyck said with a laugh. 'That moment (when the Hart appeared) was like putting a cherry on top. I had no idea what the Hart looked like. Article content 'I'll probably picture this day as one of the greatest in my career. This is awesome, I can give everyone a hug.' Article content Article content He becomes the fifth goalie to win the Hart and Vezina in the same year and the fourth to do it for a Canadian team. Carey Price, Jose Theodore and Jacques Plante had the double for Montreal through the decades — Price the last one to do it in 2015 — while Dominik Hasek won both with Buffalo in 1997. Article content Article content The league moved away from a formal awards gala into a gradual release of the winners via surprise videos involving teammates, family and friends presenting the trophies. Article content Bolts general manager Julien BriseBois called Kucherov into his office at the practice rink for a staged meeting while the players drove to the practice rink and gathered outside with his Lindsay prize. Article content Rookie of the year Lane Hutson of the Canadiens was pranked at a restaurant after the defenceman was told there was going to be a party for his Calder Trophy nomination. A Hall of Fame rep hid in the washroom with the silverware. Article content Florida centre Aleksander Barkov was given the Frank J. Selke Trophy as top defensive forward and the King Clancy community service award by patients at a children's hospital he supports. Cale Makar of the Avalanche got the Norris Trophy as top defenceman and Anze Kopitar the Lady Byng for clean play and high production on respective golf courses. Washington's Spencer Carbery received the Jack Adams as coach of the year at the end of a supposed TV interview in D.C. with his parents flown in and waiting in the wings.
Forbes
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Winnipeg Jets' Connor Hellebuyck Wins Hart Trophy At 2025 NHL Awards
A new format for the 2025 NHL Awards delivered a rare goalie win as the most valuable player. Surrounded by friends, family and goalie partner Eric Comrie, Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets was presented with the Hart Trophy at his off-season home, right after also receiving the Vezina Trophy. This is Hellebuyck's first Hart Trophy and third Vezina win. He was also named the NHL's best goaltender by the league's general managers in 2024 and 2020. Hellebuyck also won his second-straight William M. Jennings Trophy as the qualifying netminder on the Jets team that surrendered the fewest regular-season goals. The 32-year-old is the first goalie to be voted the NHL's most valuable player by the members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association since Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens in 2014-15. Hellebuyck received 81 first-place votes and 1,346 total voting points, edging out Edmonton Oilers forward and 2020 Hart winner Leon Draisaitl (53 first-place votes and 1,209 points), Tampa Bay Lightning forward and 2019 Hart winner Nikita Kucherov (25 first-place votes and 973 points) and Colorado Avalanche forward and 2024 Hart winner Nathan MacKinnon (27 first-place votes and 972 points). Kucherov, who captured his second-straight scoring title and the third of his career with 121 regular-season points, was named the winner of the Ted Lindsay Award for the second time, voted most valuable by the members of the NHL Players' Association. Rather than hold a traditional awards ceremony in the days leading up to the draft, the NHL opted for a new format this year — announcing the finalists for each voted award, then surprising players during their everyday routines in hopes of creating viral moments. Not surprisingly, golf courses figured prominently. Cale Makar received his second career Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman on his home course in Calgary, while Anze Kopitar was presented with a miniature replica of the Lady Byng Trophy on a golf day with his family in his home country of Slovenia. It was the third Lady Byng for the Los Angeles Kings captain, honored for sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct or, as his daughter Neza put it, being 'the nicest NHL player.' Other winners included Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov, who won his third Selke Trophy as the NHL's best defensive forward as well as the King Clancy Trophy for his leadership and contributions in the community. Defenseman Lane Hutson won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year after leading all rookies with 66 points and helping the Montreal Canadiens reach the playoffs for the first time in four years. Spencer Carbery was named the winner of the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year after guiding the Washington Capitals to top spot in the Eastern Conference in just his second year behind the bench — all while guiding his team through Alexander Ovechkin's quest to break Wayne Gretzky's goal record. And Ovechkin was the recipient of the Mark Messier Leadership Award. The most emotional presentation went to one of the league's most stoic personalities. Sean Monahan of the Columbus Blue Jackets was named the winner of the Masterton Trophy for perserverance and dedication to hockey — for serving as a leader in his first season in Columbus and helping guide the team and its fanbase through its collective heartbreak after his close friend, Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau, and his brother Matthew were tragically killed last August. Johnny Gaudreau's widow, Meredith, flew up to the Toronto suburbs to personally present Monahan with the award. 'Sean stood by my side for every tribute, every walk-out, and I dragged him out there to cry with me on national television so many times,' Meredith said. 'It's really special that I could be a part of this because this one's about you,' she told Monahan, as he wiped away tears. 'This one's celebrating your character and how good of a person you are.' On Thursday, the NHL also announced the members of its first and second all-star teams, and all-rookie team. Thursday's one-hour 2025 NHL Awards package was hosted by actor Isaiah Mustafa from Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, and televised before Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers. The defending champion Panthers currently lead the rematch, two games to one.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
3 Takeaways: Golden Knights Drop Second Straight At Home While Kings Draw Closer In Pacific Division
LAS VEGAS -- Needing to distance themselves from the pack, the Golden Knights missed another opportunity when they lost to the Western Conference-leading Winnipeg Jets, 4-0, on Thursday. Facing Winnipeg's backup goaltender, Eric Comrie, the Knights stumbled through a sluggish start and couldn't catch up once the Jets got their offense started. Comrie made 26 saves in recording his second shutout of the season. Vegas started Adin Hill, who made 16 saves before being pulled in the third period for Akira Schmid. Here are three takeaways from the game: WESTERN WOES: Vegas has split its 32 games since Jan. 14, with a majority of its wins coming against Eastern Conference foes. The Knights, who turned in a 10-2-2 mark in March, are 16-11-5 during that stretch, including 10-4-3 against teams from the East. That leaves a disappointing 6-7-2 against Western Conference foes in the same span. "I'm concerned," coach Bruce Cassidy said. "This isn't a one-off. We should be prepared to play. We didn't." The Golden Knights have seven games remaining - all against Western Conference teams. ENEMY TERRITORY: With three road games on deck, the Golden Knights bring their fledgling offense north of the border for a date with a dangerous and hungry Calgary Flames team that is still looking for a playoff berth. The Flames (84) are five points back of the Minnesota Wild, who have 89 points and are in second place in the Wild Card race. Calgary will be playing its second game of a two-game homestand after Thursday's 4-1 win over Anaheim. The Flames have won two of their last three in Calgary. The Knights have won their last two meetings with the Flames, but the home team is on a 5-1 run with this series. NOW WHAT, AGAIN: To revisit the same thought after Tuesday's loss to Edmonton, the Golden Knights have clinched a playoff berth, but are not out of the wild-card woods just yet. Vegas (98) is now only three points ahead of the Los Angeles Kings (93) and five in front of the Edmonton Oilers (91). Sitting in first and second of the Western Conference Wild Card standings are the St. Louis Blues and Wild, both from the Central Division. The Knights aren't in jeopardy of slipping out of the Pacific Division's top three, but could fall into second- or third-place with a late-season collapse. By doing so, they would face either the Kings or Oilers in the first round, rather than the Blues or Wild. The Knights have seven games remaining, including five on the road. They'll need to shake off their back-to-back losses at home and get back to winning if they want to wrap up their fifth Pacific Division title.
CBC
04-04-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Jets blank Golden Knights 4-0, tie franchise record for wins at 52
Backup goaltender Eric Comrie made 26 saves for his second shutout in two months as the Winnipeg Jets beat the Vegas Golden Knights 4-0 on Thursday night in a matchup of Western Conference divisional leaders. The Jets are now one victory from breaking the franchise record and took a big step toward securing the Central Division and home-ice advantage for the Stanley Cup playoffs. They have three more points than Washington in the race for the Presidents' Trophy and four more than Dallas in the Central. Vegas, after back-to-back losses this week, finds its once solid grip on the Pacific Division more tenuous. Los Angeles is within three points after beating the Utah Hockey Club 4-2 on Thursday night. Vegas entered the week comfortably ahead in the Pacific but the Knights now risk falling into a potential first-round playoff matchup with the Edmonton Oilers, who lost last year's Stanley Cup final in Game 7. Mark Scheifele, Adam Lowry, Colin Miller and Cole Perfetti scored, and Nino Niederreiter had two assists. Comrie, who backs up two-time Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck, got his first shutout since Feb. 4 against Carolina. Scheifele's goal was his 799th career point. Blake Wheeler is the only player in the franchise to reach the 800-point mark. Adin Hill stopped 16 of 19 shots while playing the first two periods for the Golden Knights. Hill was replaced in the third by Akira Schmid, who was recently called up from the AHL's Henderson Silver Knight. Schmid saved both shots he faced. Perfetti's goal was an empty-netter. Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers was twice injured after getting hit by the puck. The second time, in the third period, he left and didn't return. The Jets' 52 wins tied the mark set last season and in 2017-18, when they went deep into the playoffs. That year, Winnipeg was knocked out of the Western Conference final in five games by the Golden Knights. The Washington Capitals beat the Knights in five games to claim the Stanley Cup. The next — and possibly record-setting — game for the Jets is against Utah on Saturday. The Knights also play that day, against Calgary.
Washington Post
04-04-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Comrie records shutout as Jets beat Golden Knights 4-0 in matchup of divisional leaders
LAS VEGAS — Backup Eric Comrie made 26 saves for his second shutout in two months as the Winnipeg Jets beat the Vegas Golden Knights 4-0 on Thursday night in a matchup of Western Conference divisional leaders. The Jets took a step toward securing the Central Division and home-ice advantage for the Stanley Cup playoffs. They have three more points than Washington in the race for the Presidents' Trophy and four more than Dallas in the Central.
