WINNIPEG, MANITOBA – APRIL 18: Connor Hellebuyck #37. (Photo by Jason Halstead/Getty Images)
2020 NHL Awards
Vezina Trophy:
- An annual award given to the goalkeeper adjudged to be the best at this position as voted by the general managers of all NHL clubs.
Finalists:
- Tuuka Rask
- Andrei Vasilevskiy
- Connor Hellebuyck
Winner: Connor Hellebuyck
This was probably the toughest decision to make throughout the entire awards process, but Hellebuyck is most deserving.
The old days of goaltenders playing 70-plus games is finished, but Hellebuyck was well on his way to reaching that mark this season and that should mean something. In 58 games played, Hellebuyck has a 31-21-5 record, .922 Save Percentage, 2.57 Goals Against Average and six shutouts.
Although Rask has similar stats as Hellebuyck, Rask has played in 17 less games and is doing it on a team that is much better defensively than the Winnipeg Jets. The Jets defense was in shambles when Dustin Byfuglien decided not to show up this year, so Hellebuyck has been the team’s MVP as they fight for a playoff spot.