Kristen Shiltonjun13, 2025, 12:00 at
Closekristen Shilton is ESPN’s national NHL reporter.
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuick is the winner of the NHL Heart Trophy for the 2024-25 season.
The Jets veteran Netminder was the third goalkeeper to become a Hart finalist in the past decade. This was awarded annually to a player “deemed the most valuable to his team.” On Thursday he was revealed as the first goalkeeper to win it since Carrie Price in 2015, finishing fourth overall in the position during the expansion era (1967-68 onwards).
Hellebuyck also won the Vezina Trophy as the top goaltender in the NHL. And in doing so, he became the first goalkeeper to win the Hart and Vegina trophies in the same year from Price.
Hellebuyck was a nearly unanimous choice for Vezina, winning 31 out of 32 votes from the NHL general manager. He received 81 votes, number one in 191 Hearts from members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association. Leon Draysitel of Edmonton was second.
Both honors were announced at the league awards show prior to Game 4 in the Stanley Cup final on Thursday night. On the broadcast, footage of Helebuik’s family showed him astonishing him with a trophy at his Michigan home earlier this spring. Winnipeg’s Helebuick goaltending partner Eric Comley also revealed.
“Looking back, I’d imagine this day as perhaps one of the greatest things in my career,” Helebuick said of receiving two trophies.
Winnipeg’s Conor Helebuick is the first goaltender since Carrie Price in 2015 to clean up the Heart and Vegina trophies in the same season. Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images
Hellebuyck spent a dominant regular season with the Jets, bringing together 47 league-leading wins as Winnipeg paced the NHL with points to win the franchise’s first presidential trophy. He also led eligible goalkeepers with closure (8) and average (2.00) goals (.925) with the second-best save percentage (.925). Hellebuyck’s season also included eight games of winning streak and 11 games of streaks (9-0-2).
The regular season-produced Hellebuick was not translated into Winnipeg in the playoffs. He recorded the 6-7 mark in the second round, earning .866 SV% and 3.08 GAA. Helebuick was pulled three times in the Jets’ first-round series against St. Louis, with Winnipeg ultimately winning in seven games. The Jets were then defeated by Dallas in the second round.
According to ESPN research, Hellebuyck follows Dominik Hasek (1996-97 and 1997-98), Jose Theodore (Montreal and 2001-02), and Price (Montreal and 2014-15) (Montreal and 2014-15).
Editor’s Pick
1 Related
The NHL previously announced other top award winners.
Tampa Bay Lightning Forward Nikitakchelov received the Ted Lindsay Award, given to the best player in the league of his choice. Kucherov, who had 84 assists leading the league in the regular season, was also a finalist for Hart.
Florida Panthers forward Alexander Barkov was awarded the Selke Trophy as the league’s best defensive forward. It was Barkov (2021, ’24), the third Selke victory that helped Florida achieve top-10 finishes in goals per game (7th), shots per game (5th), and penalty kill efficiency (10th). Barkov also won the King Clancy Trophy given to players who “most demonstrated leadership qualities on and off the ice and made remarkable humanitarian contributions in his community.”
Colorado Avalanche defensive man Cale Makar has won Norris Trophy given to a defenseman who demonstrates his greatest all-round ability. This was Norris’ second victory in Makar’s career after the regular season, leading all NHL Blu-rayers with 30 goals and 92 points.
Montreal Canadiens defensive man Lane Hutson won the Calder Trophy as the league’s most skilled rookie. Hutson led all freshmen with 66 points, and his 60 assist tied Larry Murphy for a first-year skater single-season record for the NHL.
Los Angeles Kings Forward Anzekopiter took home the Ladybin trophy given to players who best illustrate gentlemanly behaviour. He is the 10th skater to win three (2016, 2023) awards. Kopitar only evaluated two minor penalties in the regular season, scoring 21 goals and 67 points.
Washington Capitals coach Spencer Carberry received the Jack Adams Award as the coach who contributed most to the team’s success. Carbery led Washington to a 51-22-9 record and a first-place finish in the Eastern Conference in the second season behind the Capitals’ bench.
Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin received the Mark Messier Award for leadership.
