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| Sport | Ice hockey |
|---|---|
| Awarded for | National Hockey League goaltender(s) that have played for the team that allows the fewest goals scored against it. |
| History | |
| First award | 1981–82 NHL season |
| Most recent | Connor Hellebuyck Winnipeg Jets |
The William M. Jennings Trophy is an annual National Hockey League (NHL) award given to "the goaltender(s) having played a minimum of 25 games for the team with the fewest goals scored against it ... based on regular-season play." From 1946 until 1981, the Vezina Trophy had been awarded under that definition, but it was later changed and replaced by the Jennings Trophy. It is named in honor of William M. Jennings, the longtime governor and president of the New York Rangers. Since its beginnings in 1982, it has been awarded at the end of 40 seasons to 44 different players; mostly in tandems of two goaltenders.
The most recent winner is Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets. The Jets had a league-low 199 team goals-against in the 2023–24 season.
History
From 1946 until the 1980–81 season, the Vezina Trophy was awarded to the goaltender(s) of the NHL team allowing the fewest goals during the regular season. However, it was recognized that this system often meant the trophy went to the goaltender of the better team rather than the individual and was changed to offer the trophy to the most outstanding goaltender, as voted by the NHL general managers. The William M. Jennings Trophy was created as a replacement and is awarded to the starting goaltender(s) playing for the team with the fewest goals against.
The Jennings Trophy was donated by the NHL's board of governors and first presented at the conclusion of the 1981–82 season. It is named in honor of the late William M. Jennings, who was a longtime governor and president of the New York Rangers and a builder of ice hockey in the United States. Normally the minimum number of games a goaltender must play to be eligible for the trophy is 25, but for the lockout shortened 1994–95 season, the required minimum was fourteen games.
Ten players have won both the Jennings and Vezina Trophy for the same season: Patrick Roy (1988–89 and 1991–92), Ed Belfour (1990–91 and 1992–93), Dominik Hasek (1993–94 and 2000–01), Martin Brodeur (2002–03, 2003–04), Miikka Kiprusoff (2005–06), Tim Thomas (2008–09), Carey Price (2014–15), Marc-Andre Fleury (2020–21), Linus Ullmark (2022–23), and Connor Hellebuyck (2023–24). Roy and Brodeur have won the trophy five times each, the most of any goaltenders. Belfour is third, having won four times. The Montreal Canadiens have the most wins, with six, followed by the New Jersey Devils and the Chicago Blackhawks with five each, the Boston Bruins with four, and the Buffalo Sabres and with three.
Winners
Bold Player with the fewest goals ever scored against in a Jennings' winning season.
See also
Notes
- Corey Crawford and Ray Emery hold the record for fewest goals scored against in a season, however this was in a lockout shortened season. Martin Brodeur has the fewest goals scored against in a full-length season.
- Season shortened by the 1994–95 NHL lockout
- For the 2002–03 season, there was a tie between Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils and Robert Esche and Roman Cechmanek of the Philadelphia Flyers. This is the first time that there has been a tie between players from different teams.
- Not awarded due to the lockout
- Season shortened by the 2012–13 NHL lockout
- For the 2014–15 season, there was a tie between Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens and Corey Crawford of the Chicago Blackhawks. This is the second time that there has been a tie between players from different teams.
- Season shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic
- Season delayed and shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic
References
- General
- "William M. Jennings Trophy history". National Hockey League. Retrieved September 15, 2007.
- "William M. Jennings Trophy history". Legends of Hockey. Archived from the original on August 7, 2007. Retrieved September 15, 2007.
- "Final Standings". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on April 3, 2009. Retrieved September 18, 2007.
- Specific
- ^ "William M. Jennings Trophy history". National Hockey League. Retrieved September 17, 2007.
- ^ "Vezina Trophy history". National Hockey League. Retrieved September 17, 2007.
- "Vezina Trophy history". Legends Of Hockey. Archived from the original on August 8, 2007. Retrieved September 17, 2007.
- "William H. Jennings Trophy winners". ESPN. 15 November 2006. Retrieved September 17, 2007.
| NHL awards and trophies | |
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| Individual | |
| Defunct | |
