Winnipeg Jets' Hellebuyck named finalist for Hart Trophy as NHL's most valuable player

Darren Bernhardt · CBC News

· Posted: May 01, 2025 12:40 PM EDT | Last Updated: 9 minutes ago

Winnipeg Jets fans person already been chanting it for respective games whenever his sanction is announced, and now it's official — Connor Hellebuyck is simply a finalist for the NHL's most invaluable player.

The thunderous chants roar passim Canada Life Centre astatine each crippled erstwhile Hellebuyck is announced as the starting goaltender and he's shown connected the large screen: "MVP! MVP! MVP!"

On Thursday, the time aft the 31-year-old goaltender helped his squad instrumentality a 3-2 lead in their best-of-seven playoff bid against the St. Louis Blues, the Jets and the NHL announced that helium is 1 of three finalists for the 2024-25 Hart Memorial Trophy.

Hellebuyck is archetypal subordinate successful franchise past (including arsenic the Atlanta Thrashers) to beryllium voted arsenic a Hart finalist and conscionable the 3rd goalie to beryllium a Hart finalist successful the past 10 seasons.

If helium wins, helium volition beryllium lone the 4th goalie successful the NHL expansion epoch (since 1967-68) to triumph the award, pursuing Dominik Hasek (1996-97 and 1997-98), Jose Theodore (2001-02) and Carey Price (2014-15).

The Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl and Tampa Bay Lightning's Nikita Kucherov are the different 2 finalists.

Draisaitl, 29, led the NHL successful goals (52), tied for 3rd successful points (106) and was a career-best plus-32 successful 71 games. He won the Hart successful 2019-20 and is simply a two-time finalist.

Kucherov, 31, led the NHL for the 2nd consecutive play with 121 points (37 goals, 84 assists). He won the Hart Trophy successful 2018-19 and is a three-time finalist.

Hellebuyck has had immoderate struggles successful the post-season, allowing 15 goals successful his past 3 games. That 5.00 goals against mean is a sizeable plaything from the regular season, erstwhile helium led the full league with a 2.00 GAA.

But his dominance during the 82-game regular play can't beryllium denied.

He was archetypal successful the NHL in wins (47) and shutouts (eight) and was tied successful full games played (63).

Only 2 goaltenders successful NHL past person recorded much wins successful a azygous campaign: Martin Brodeur (48 successful 2006-07) and Braden Holtby (48 successful 2015-16).

He was 2nd wide successful prevention percent (.925) and minutes played (3,741), and 4th successful saves (1,539). Hellebuyck yielded 2 oregon less goals successful 40 of his 63 appearances and had an eight-game winning streak from Jan. 22 until Feb. 26 and an 11-game constituent streak (9-0-2) from Dec. 5 until Jan. 2.

His play lifted the Jets to franchise records for wins (56) and points (116) successful a season, arsenic good arsenic their archetypal Presidents' Trophy arsenic the league's apical team.

Hellebuyck also won his 2nd consecutive Williams Jennings Trophy for allowing the fewest regular-season goals.

The 2020 and 2024 Vezina Trophy victor arsenic the NHL's apical 'tender is besides a finalist for the grant again this season, the 5th clip successful the past 8 seasons that helium has been a finalist for that award.