Which Goaltender Won the Hart/Vezina Combo Two Years in a Row?

Published on June 13th, 2025 11:06 am EST
Written By: Dave Manuel


Goaltenders often take a backseat in MVP conversations. The Hart Memorial Trophy, awarded to the NHL's most valuable player, has historically been dominated by goal-scorers and playmakers. But every so often, a goalie performs at such an elite level that voters have no choice but to hand him both the Hart and the Vezina in the same season.

It's only happened six times in NHL history. Here's who did it, and how.

Jacques Plante - 1961-62, Montreal Canadiens

The first goalie ever to sweep both the Hart and Vezina in the same season was Jacques Plante. While detailed save percentages weren't officially tracked at the time, Plante was dominant in his era, posting a league-best goals-against average and leading the Canadiens to another top-tier campaign. His shutout total led the league and his consistency between the pipes helped define the goaltending position for years to come.

Dominik Hasek - 1996-97 and 1997-98, Buffalo Sabres

No goalie has ever dominated the Hart-Vezina combo like Dominik Hasek.

In 1996-97, Hasek went 38-13-5 with a goals-against average around 2.07 and a save percentage above .930. He recorded seven shutouts in December alone and carried a Sabres team that didn't have much scoring firepower to a playoff spot.

Then he did it again the very next season.

In 1997-98, Hasek posted 13 shutouts and played in 72 games-a massive workload for any goalie in the modern era. It was a season that cemented his legacy. He remains the only netminder to win the Hart twice and pair it with multiple Vezinas. Over his career, Hasek finished with 389 wins, a 2.20 GAA, and a .922 save percentage.

Jose Theodore - 2001-02, Montreal Canadiens

Theodore's 2001-02 campaign was as unexpected as it was elite. He finished with a 30-26-7 record, a 2.11 goals-against average, and a .931 save percentage - best in the NHL that year. His reflex-heavy style and calm presence in high-pressure moments helped steal wins for a Canadiens team that finished eighth in the Eastern Conference. Theodore edged out Jarome Iginla for the Hart in one of the tighter MVP races of the era.

Carey Price - 2014-15, Montreal Canadiens

Another Canadiens netminder, another Hart-Vezina sweep.

Price's 2014-15 season was all about efficiency. He posted a 38-15-9 record with a 1.96 GAA, .933 save percentage, and five shutouts. Montreal finished with 110 points, tops in the Eastern Conference, largely on the back of Price's consistency. He was a one-man wall, making the simple saves look automatic and the difficult ones look routine. Voters took notice, handing him both major awards - along with the William M. Jennings Trophy for good measure.

Connor Hellebuyck - 2024-25, Winnipeg Jets

The most recent addition to the list, Connor Hellebuyck turned in a spectacular 2024-25 campaign to earn both the Vezina and Hart. He finished with a 37-19-4 record, a 2.39 goals-against average, a .921 save percentage, and five shutouts.

What set Hellebuyck apart wasn't just his stats, but his consistency in high-leverage moments. It was the first time in a decade that a goalie had claimed both awards, and he became just the sixth netminder in league history to do it.