The Vezina Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL’s best goalie, has not seen a repeat winner since Martin Brodeur captured his third and fourth trophies in 2007 and 2008. However, Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck is making a strong case to change that narrative this season.
The 31-year-old, a Vezina winner in 2020, has been stellar so far, leading the NHL in wins (11), goals-against average (1.83), save percentage (.935), and shutouts (3) after his first 12 games of the season. Hellebuyck is also tied for fifth in high-danger saves (70) and boasts a remarkable .989 save percentage on long-range shots (92 of 93 stopped) as of his matchup with the New York Rangers on Tuesday.
While Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin remains a contender for the league’s top netminder, Hellebuyck has outperformed him in some areas, including high-danger save percentage (.854 vs .811). Shesterkin leads in midrange save percentage (.941 to .899), but the race between these two remains tight, with both goalies showing elite form.
Hellebuyck’s dominance has played a key role in the Jets’ success this season. With him in net, the Jets have outscored opponents 45-22, giving them an NHL-best plus-23 goal differential among goalies. His consistency is evident, as Hellebuyck has posted a save percentage above .900 in nine of his 12 games—the most in the league. Only Anthony Stolarz (80%) and Ilya Sorokin (77.8%) have a higher percentage of games with a save percentage above .900.
The Jets are off to a historic start under new coach Scott Arniel, becoming the first team in NHL history to win 14 of their first 15 games. As of Saturday’s 4-1 win against Dallas, they lead the league in both goals per game (4.47) and goals against per game (2.07). This makes them just the fourth team in the expansion era (since 1967-68) to top both categories after 15 games, joining the 1984-85 Edmonton Oilers, 2005-06 Ottawa Senators, and 2022-23 Boston Bruins.
A significant factor in Winnipeg’s offensive surge is their power-play success. After ranking 22nd in the NHL last season with an 18.8% conversion rate, they now lead the league with a staggering 41.9% efficiency. The Jets’ puck movement has created cleaner shot opportunities, forcing opponents away from the net. As a team, they are averaging 8.88 miles per 60 minutes on the power play, ranking third in the league.
Kyle Connor leads the team with four power-play goals and is second in the NHL with five midrange goals. Three of those have come with the man advantage, placing him just behind Artemi Panarin (six) of the Rangers.
While Connor has been a key offensive contributor, Hellebuyck’s play has been just as crucial. The Jets rank 31st in shot attempts percentage (42.6%) since Nov. 4, but Hellebuyck has kept the team on a winning streak, stopping 88 of 89 shots over three games last week. In that span, he posted a 0.33 goals-against average, a .989 save percentage, and two shutouts, helping the Jets maintain their strong position despite low shot volume.
Even though the Jets’ shot attempts percentage ranks 20th in the league this season, Hellebuyck’s stellar play makes him a dark horse contender for the Hart Trophy, awarded to the most valuable player in the league. No goalie has won the Hart since Carey Price in 2015, but Hellebuyck could challenge that if he continues to carry the Jets, potentially guiding them to the Presidents’ Trophy as the best team in the regular season.
The NHL has seen several first-time Stanley Cup champions in recent years, with the Florida Panthers (2024), Vegas Golden Knights (2023), St. Louis Blues (2019), and Washington Capitals (2018) all claiming their first titles. If Hellebuyck maintains his dominant play through the postseason, the Jets could be another team to capture their first-ever championship in 2025.
