Winnipeg Jets’ Connor Hellebucyk wins William M. Jennings Trophy
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has won the William M. Jennings Trophy after the team’s 4-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday.
Connor Hellebuyck has secured the first William M. Jennings Trophy for the @NHLJets! 🛩️
This trophy is awarded to the goalie(s) (min. 25 games played) for the team with the fewest goals against during the regular season. #NHLAwards pic.twitter.com/YU95xCtLBm
The award is given to the goalie or goalies who have “played a minimum of 25 games for the team with the fewest goals scored against it” during the regular season. With only 23 games played, Laurent Brossoit does not qualify for the award, therefore it was solely awarded to Hellebuyck.
The Jets entered their season finale on Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks with three fewer goals allowed than the Florida Panthers in second place, meaning they needed to allow two goals or fewer to secure the trophy for themselves. They did just that, with Brossoit stopping 18 of 20 shots for the win while Hellebuyck sat out for the game to rest before the playoffs.
The win is not only the first time Hellebuyck has won the award, but the first time in Jets’ franchise history that it’s been won. It had not been won during the franchise’s time in Atlanta as the Thrashers, nor had it even been won during the previous Jets franchise’s time in Winnipeg.
Hellebuyck becomes the first singular winner of the award since Jonathan Quick won it with the Los Angeles Kings in the 2017-18 season, with the previous five being won by tandem goaltenders. The Jets’ 199 goals allowed to secure the award is the fourth-highest goals against total in the salary cap era. Had the Jets allowed one more goal or the Panthers one fewer, it would have been the third time in the history of the award that it was split between two teams.
Hellebuyck wins the award amidst another incredible season in his career, with a 37-19-4 record, a .921% save percentage, five shutouts, and 32.81 5v5 goals saved above expected in 60 games this season. He’ll be looking to win his second Vezina Trophy as well with the season he’s had, and would the third goaltender in the past four seasons to win both the Jennings and the Vezina.