Who won the first NHL Vezina Trophy in 1927–28?

George Hainsworth won the first NHL Vezina Trophy in the 1927–28 season.

Hainsworth was the Montreal Canadiens’ goaltender and recorded 13 shutouts during that season. The trophy had been established after the death of Georges Vézina, the Canadiens goaltender whose name it carries. Initially, it was awarded to the goaltender of the team allowing the fewest goals during the regular season.

Hainsworth’s first Vezina came during a remarkable run with Montreal. He won the award again in 1928–29 and 1929–30, making him the first goaltender to win it three times. In 1928–29, he recorded 22 shutouts, an NHL single-season record that remains famous in league history.

A common mix-up is answering Georges Vézina himself. Vézina inspired the trophy’s name but died in 1926 and therefore did not win the first award. The Vezina’s criteria later changed to recognize the league’s best goaltender more directly.