William M. Jennings Trophy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids William M. Jennings Trophy |
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| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Given 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 a special award in the National Hockey League (NHL). It's given every year to the goaltender(s) who play for the team that lets in the fewest goals during the regular season. To win, a goalie must have played at least 25 games.
Before 1981, a different award called the Vezina Trophy was given for this same reason. But then the rules changed, and the Jennings Trophy was created. This award is named after William M. Jennings, who was a very important person for the New York Rangers hockey team for a long time. Since it started in 1982, 44 different players have won it, often with two goalies sharing the award.
The most recent winner is Connor Hellebuyck from the Winnipeg Jets. His team, the Jets, allowed only 199 goals in the 2023–24 season, which was the lowest in the league.
History of the Trophy
From 1946 until the 1980–81 season, the Vezina Trophy was given to the goalie (or goalies) on the team that let in the fewest goals. But people realized that this often meant the best team's goalie won, not necessarily the best individual goalie. So, the NHL decided to change the Vezina Trophy. They made it an award for the most outstanding goalie, chosen by the NHL general managers.
To replace the old Vezina rule, the William M. Jennings Trophy was created. It's now given to the starting goalie(s) whose team has the best record for letting in the fewest goals. The NHL's board of governors donated the trophy. It was first given out after the 1981–82 season.
The trophy honors William M. Jennings. He was a key leader and president of the New York Rangers for many years. He also helped build ice hockey in the United States. Usually, a goalie needs to play at least 25 games to be able to win the trophy. However, during the shorter 1994–95 season, the rule was changed to only 14 games.
Some goalies have won both the Jennings Trophy and the Vezina Trophy in the same season. These include Patrick Roy, Ed Belfour, Dominik Hasek, Martin Brodeur, Miikka Kiprusoff, Tim Thomas, Carey Price, Marc-Andre Fleury, and Linus Ullmark.
Patrick Roy and Martin Brodeur have won the Jennings Trophy five times each, which is more than any other goalie. Ed Belfour is next, with four wins. The Montreal Canadiens team has won the trophy six times, more than any other team. The New Jersey Devils and Chicago Blackhawks have won it five times each.
Winners
Player is still active in the NHL Player's team won the Stanley Cup Player elected to Hockey Hall of Fame Player not yet eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame Bold Player with the fewest goals ever scored against in a Jennings' winning season.
See also
In Spanish: Trofeo William M. Jennings para niños
