The National Hockey League continues to roll out its annual award winners by way of near-daily releases. With the King Clancy, Selke, Ted Lindsay, Bill Masterton and Jack Adams Awards already having been dolled out via NHL release on social media, only a few key trophies remain. Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was named a finalist for both the Vezina and Hart Trophies this spring - rightly so. On Saturday, a slightly out-of-focus photo began circulating on social media indicating the possibility that the Jets' No. 1 backstop had actually been awarded both trophies. *Photo credit unknown [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/93cad27f-1bd8-4f35-8a91-a634edb6ceae.png] *Photo credit unknown The photo clearly shows an individual fitting the build and look of Hellebuyck posing with both trophies on the edge of the water with onlookers taking photos with phones and DSLR cameras. With the NHL and its social media team making a significant deal about 'surprising' its trophy winners this year, the league has supplied a number of lengthy videos showcasing the way it presented the individual award-winners with their trophies. Some heartwarming moments involving Aleksander Barkov, Sean Monahan and Spencer Carberry have already made their rounds online. That is where the drama begins. Where it continues is the fact that the NHL sent out a media release indicating the NHL Awards show would take place on June 12, where "best players and coaches from the 2024-25 season will be celebrated" in a one-hour award show at 5:00 PM central time on Sportsnet in Canada. However, that email states that the only trophies revealed on that date for the first time would be the Vezina and Hart. Does Hellebuyck have a prior commitment on that date? Is he unable to attend? Could something possibly be more important than becoming the first goaltender since Carey Price (and ninth all-time) to be named league MVP? Last year he served in teammate and fellow Michigan native, Kyle Connor's wedding. Is there a particular event this June that will prevent him from attending the award show? Hellebuyck is a rather private guy. He does not have a publicly shared Instagram account. His wife, Andrea, however, teamed up with the Jets to share a video last season showcasing Hellebuyck's love for the outdoors and fishing. He is seen in the following frames with his son, Hugh, to which some recognizable landmarks from the above photo can be distinguished. The white light poles and large rocks along the embankment of the inlet along the Hellebuyck property can easily be seen from the aerial drone shot. They match such items in the leaked photo. Image [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/cbe6f3db-a0e2-48b4-ad70-fafc7f36d38e.jpeg] Image [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/ec194f2d-8364-4cfc-8088-285fe2f92a06.jpeg] Image [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/a2cfc656-c3ca-4922-ab57-665f1f4bb54f.jpeg] This is the part the NHL does not want you to see. From this leaked evidence, it is abundantly clear that Hellebuyck is the 2024-25 Vezina and Hart Trophy winner. With a league-leading 47 wins, eight shutouts, a 2.00 goals against average and a .925 save percentage, the 32-year-old backstop is every bit deserving of the accolade. His stellar regular season performance, unfortunately, did not translate to the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, where he suffered three lopsided road losses in St. Louis. But Hellebuyck's teammates and home fans helped bail him out of the jam with strong performances at Canada Life Centre, pushing Winnipeg to a second round matchup with Dallas - which it lost in six games. Luckily for Hellebuyck - and not so for Leon Draisaitl - votes were tallied prior to the start of the postseason, removing any playoff responsibility from the numbers. With this photo now out in the public, fans will have to wait until Thursday, June 12 for the official announcement.
