Latest news with #HartMemorialTrophy
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Auston Matthews' Silent Reaction to Joe Thornton News
Auston Matthews' Silent Reaction to Joe Thornton News originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Jumbo Joe has reached hockey immortality following the announcement on Tuesday that former San Jose Sharks superstar center Joe Thornton has been finally elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame. Thornton, who spent most of his playing career in the NHL with the Sharks, had an incredible reaction when he learned of the honor. Advertisement 'Holy doodle, I can't believe that I am receiving this honor," the former Hart Memorial Trophy winner said, per There are so many people I need to thank because I certainly couldn't have done this alone.' Congratulatory messages for Thornton also flowed following the news. His former Toronto Maple Leafs teammate, Auston Matthews, had a simple social media gesture to show his respect for one of the best ever to do it on the ice, as he reshared a post by Bleacher Report about Thornton's achievement. Via Auston Matthews' Instagram account Matthews is among the fortunate ones to share the ice as Thornton's teammate in the NHL, even though it was during the latter part of the legend's pro career. Advertisement Thornton spent the 2020-21 NHL regular season with the Maple Leafs, appearing in 44 games and scoring five goals to go with 15 assists for 20 points. Maple Leafs top line of Mitch Marner (left) and Auston Matthews (34) and Joe Thornton (97) take a break during a stoppage in Hamilton-Imagn Images He signed with the Florida Panthers for the 2021-22 campaign. Thornton didn't have a team in the 2022-23 season, but it was not until October of 2023 that he announced his retirement from the NHL. In 1,714 regular season games in the NHL with the Boston Bruins, Sharks, Maple Leafs and Panthers, Thornton racked up 430 goals, 1,109 assists and a plus-182. Related: Maple Leafs React to Major Auston Matthews Announcement on Monday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Connor Hellebuyck's incredible season earns him both Hart and Vezina Trophies, rewriting NHL records
Connor Hellebuyck has officially entered rarefied air in NHL history. The Winnipeg Jets' goaltender was named the 2024-25 Hart Memorial Trophy winner, earning recognition as the league's most valuable player. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Just days earlier, he had already secured the Vezina Trophy, awarded to the NHL's top goaltender. Winning both in a single season puts him in the company of legends—and solidifies his standing as one of the greatest American-born goalies of all time. Winnipeg Jets' Connor Hellebuyck stuns NHL world by clinching both Hart and Vezina Trophies The 31-year-old's reaction to his Vezina win was shared in an intimate setting, surrounded by friends and family at home. But the real surprise came moments later when teammate Eric Comrie showed up to reveal the Hart Trophy, making the moment unforgettable. Only a handful of goalies have achieved the rare feat of winning both awards in the same season. Hellebuyck now joins the elite ranks of Jacques Plante (1962), Dominik Hasek (1997, 1998), Jose Theodore (2002), and Carey Price (2015). It's a list reserved for all-time greats, and Hellebuyck's name now comfortably sits among them. Statistically, Hellebuyck's 2024-25 season was nothing short of dominant. He posted a 2.00 goals-against average, an NHL-best 47 wins, and eight shutouts. His .925 save percentage ranked just behind Anthony Stolarz, but Hellebuyck played 63 games—a heavier workload than most. According to Evolving-Hockey, he saved 49.48 goals above expected, the third-highest mark since 2007. With his third Vezina Trophy in six seasons, Hellebuyck joins a class of legends that includes Patrick Roy, Martin Brodeur, and Hasek as the only netminders to win the award more than twice since 1981. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He also won the William M. Jennings Trophy solo for the second straight season, becoming the first goalie in NHL history to do so. Since his backup Eric Comrie didn't meet the 25-game threshold, Hellebuyck stood alone in earning the honor. 'Hellebuyck was a top-five selection on 183 of 191 ballots and received 81 first-place votes,' making his Hart Trophy win hard to argue against. Edmonton's Leon Draisaitl and Tampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov were also in the running, but Hellebuyck's contributions behind Winnipeg's Presidents' Trophy-winning 116-point season were too impactful to overlook. Despite another early playoff exit and a subpar postseason performance, Hellebuyck's regular-season dominance remains unmatched. As the first year of his seven-year, $59.5 million contract comes to a close, it's clear the Jets are all-in on their franchise cornerstone—and for good reason. Also Read:
Global News
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Global News
‘Shocked': Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck wins both Hart, Vezina trophies
Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is the first Winnipeg Jets player to ever win the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player to his team. Hellebuyck pulled off the rare double, winning both the Hart and Vezina trophies as the league's top goaltender on Thursday. Hellebuyck is just the eighth goalie and the first since Carey Price in 2015 to win the MVP award and only four other goalies have won both in the same season. It's the second straight year he's won the best goalie honour and it's the third Vezina of his career, also winning in 2020. With 81 of the 191 first-place votes for 1,346 points, Hellebuyck edged Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl for the Hart. Draisaitl finished with 53 first-place votes for 1,209 points. Hellebuyck was a near-unanimous selection for the Vezina, receiving 31 of the 32 first-place votes. Story continues below advertisement Hellebuyck couldn't have even dreamed he'd win a Hart Trophy. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'As a goalie, kinda you have your own awards,' said Hellebuyck. 'You just watch forwards and D-men just rack them up all through the years and you kinda just get into your own world, the goaltending world. So when the Hart kinda drifts towards the goalie, you take notice and it makes you really feel like you did something special.' The 32-year-old backstopped the Jets to the Presidents' Trophy (best record) and the William Jennings Trophy (fewest goals allowed by team), and led the NHL in wins and goals against average among usual starters in the regular season. Typically the NHL presents their awards during a one-night awards show, but this year they handed them out individually. And Hellebuyck found out he won both when they surprised him after doing some fishing. 'It wasn't the most traditional way of doing things,' he said. 'I kinda came off the water and saw it all and really had no idea. Everyone around me did a great job of keeping it a surprise and I was just shocked. The whole morning I was just kinda jaw-dropped shocked cause the way it went down, it was just a really cool experience.' Draisaitl and Tampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov were the other Hart Trophy finalists. Tampa Bay's Andrei Vasilevskiy and Darcy Kuemper of the Los Angeles Kings were also nominated for the Vezina Trophy. Story continues below advertisement Jets forward Kyle Connor was 17th in voting for the Hart, receiving two fifth-place votes. Both Hellebuyck and Connor were voted to the NHL's first all-star team. Members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association vote on the MVP award, while the NHL's 32 general managers vote on the best goalie honour. The voting is conducted before the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Edmonton Oilers Star Leon Draisaitl and Fiancee Celeste Desjardins' Relationship Timeline
Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl has had his fiancée, Celeste Desjardins, by his side throughout his rise to NHL superstardom. Draisaitl, 29, and Desjardins, 28, got engaged in July 2024 after six years of dating. The NHL star was drafted No. 3 overall by the Oilers in the 2014 NHL Draft, making his professional debut in October of that year. Since then, Draisaitl has gone on to have one of the best decorated careers in the league, winning the Hart Memorial Trophy for NHL MVP in 2020 and earning trips to 5 NHL All-Star Games. Over the course of Draisaitl's relationship with Desjardins, the pair have given their followers glimpses into their lives away from the ice via social media. Meredith Gaudreau Celebrates Husband John Being Named to NHL Quarter Century Team: 'Forever Cheering' Desjardins, an actress best known for her roles on the Hallmark Channel and NBC's Taken, Letterkenny and The Bold Type, has also become besties with Lauren Kyle McDavid, the wife of Draisaitl's Oilers superstar teammate, Connor McDavid. 'Here's to another season with my best friend 🤍,' Desjardins and Lauren posted in a joint Instagram post in October 2024. For a timeline of Draisaitl and Desjardins' relationship, keep reading. The couple first appeared on social media together in a post via Instagram made by Draisaitl. He shared a smiling selfie taken by Desjardins captioned: '👫.' Desjardins posted the first photo of Draisaitl on her social media, showing off a selfie from an offseason trip to Greece. Draisaitl posted a picture via Instagram of Desjardins cuddling their dog, Bowie, on Valentine's Day Desjardins celebrated Draisaitl's 26th birthday with a video of the couple slow dancing next to a pool. 'I love you ❤️ 🎈,' she wrote via Instagram. Draisaitl shared a trio of photos via Instagram to celebrate Desjardins' 27th birthday, including a throwback childhood picture of Desjardins dressed as an angel. 'Happy Birthday you beautiful soul ❤️🎊 27 !!!,' he wrote. The couple dressed as David Beckham and Victoria 'Posh Spice' Beckham for Halloween. 'POSH & BECKS 🫶,' the Edmonton Oilers official Instagram account commented on the photo carousel. Draisaitl proposed to Desjardins in a gorgeous seaside setting in Mallorca, Spain. 'Forever ❤️,' Draisaitl captioned an Instagram post featuring photos from the big day. Desjardins also shared pictures from the proposal via Instagram, writing, 'The easiest yes. I love you forever.' Desjardins shared some snuggly pictures via Instagram to celebrate her fiance's birthday. 'Couldn't be happier you were born,' she wrote. During the NHL's break for the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off, Draisaitl and Desjardins jetted off to Provence, France. 'The most special trip 🥹,' Desjardins shared via Instagram, showing off photos from their romantic journey.
New York Post
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Leon Draisaitl's fiancée kicks off bachelorette party with Game 1 overtime winner
The celebrations for the Oilers' overtime triumph against the Panthers Wednesday night extended well beyond Edmonton. Celeste Desjardins, the fiancée of star Edmonton center Leon Draisaitl, kicked off her bachelorette party in Greece with fellow Oilers WAGs, as Draisaitl put Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final away with a goal in extra minutes to seal the 4-3 victory over the reigning champions. Lauren McDavid, the wife of Oilers captain Connor McDavid, chronicled the ladies' journey overseas on her Instagram Stories, where they watched the action from Rogers Place while in the air. 6 Celeste Desjardins, who is engaged to Oilers star Leon Draisaitl, kicked off her bachelorette party in June 2025 as the Stanley Cup Final began. Instagram 6 Connor McDavid's wife, Lauren, chronicled the group's travels as Game 1 got underway in Edmonton. Instagram 'PSA – when the bachelorette falls on less than ideal timing but we will be back for the good stuff!!' Lauren wrote Wednesday night. 'Go Oilers!!!' Desjardins also shared an in-flight snap of Mikayla Nurse, the wife of Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse. 'We're reaaaaady!' the bride-to-be exclaimed in an Instagram Story. 6 Leon Draisaitl and Celeste Desjardins revealed their engagement in 2024. Instagram 6 The bride-to-be sported a custom Mrs. Draisaitl top. Instagram Desjardins, who revealed her engagement to Draisaitl, 29, in July 2024, later posted a selfie with Mikayla while rocking a custom 'Mrs.' top. The bachelorette crew is hoping to keep the victory lap going as the Oilers are now three wins away from hoisting the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1990. Edmonton fell to Florida in seven last year. 6 Leon Draisaitl (29) celebrates his game-winning goal against the Panthers in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on June 4, 2025. AP 'Last year, I was kind of looking at it with googly eyes,' Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner said. 'This year seeing it, it's: 'I was here last year, I saw it. It's time to get back to work and do my thing.' It definitely felt completely different.' Draisaitl put up two goals in Wednesday's victory, including the overtime winner on a power play. 'He's invaluable,' McDavid said. 'He does so many good things: clutch, faceoffs. You name it, he does it.' 6 Edmonton now holds a 1-0 series lead against Florida. Getty Images Draisaitl, the third overall pick by the Oilers in 2014, has tallied nine goals in the playoffs so far. He's also a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy, which honors the league's most valuable player. Game 2 is set for Friday night before the series shifts to Florida for Games 3 and 4 starting Monday.
