Is Pittsburgh Penguins’ Marc-Andre Fleury Worthy Of Vezina Trophy?
By Adam Savard
Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury is having one of his best NHL seasons. Is it enough to earn him the Vezina Trophy?
Marc-Andre Fleury has experienced several ups and downs in his Pittsburgh Penguins career. From the Stanley Cup in 2008-09 to that fact that’s the only championship the Penguins have, despite having Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, critics had something to scream about when “Flower” put pen to paper on a four-year, $23 million dollar contract extension at the start of this season. Is Marc-Andre Fleury worth $5.75 million per season?
Fleury has answered his critics with a resounding “yes”, posting arguably the best numbers of his career. In what is now his eleventh season patrolling the crease in Pittsburgh, Marc-Andre Fleury is on track to post his best save percentage (.923), lowest goals against average (2.21) and is a threat to win 40 games for the second time in his career if he can win 11 of the teams last 19 games. Fleury has also set a career high with eight shutouts and could get to ten by seasons’ end. Both milestones seem reasonable considering the talent on the Pittsburgh Penguins.
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Are Fleury’s numbers enough to put him in the Vezina Trophy conversation? On the surface any goaltender approaching 40 wins with his save percentage and goals against could be leading that debate. But this isn’t a normal season for goaltenders or the Pittsburgh Penguins. While by no means are the Penguins struggling they are in third place in the Metropolitan division, a single point ahead of the Washington Capitals in the first wild card playoff berth.
At the personal level Fleury’s numbers stack up very well against any other goaltender in the league not named Pekka Rinne or Carey Price. The Montreal Canadiens backstop is leading the league in wins with 36, one ahead of Rinne whom missed time with a knee injury. Price also leads the league in GAA (1.92) and save percentage (.935). In those respective categories Rinne is third (2.11) and tied for fifth (.926). By comparison Marc-Andre Fleury sits seventh in wins and eighth in both goals against and save percentage.
If team success can make the case for Fleury, it can’t be ignored with Rinne and Price. Montreal is leading the Eastern Conference with slightly lower goals scored in support of Price. Nashville is second in the Western Conference, two points behind the Anaheim Ducks, and has scored 21 more goals than Montreal this season. You can make an argument about the strength of the West when comparing Rinne to Price and Fleury, but you can’t argue Price has dominated his opponents throughout the season.
Marc-Andre Fleury belongs in the conversation for the Vezina Trophy. A strong finish to the season should result in a nomination. However unless both Rinne and Price have a spectacular fall from grace, Fleury will likely be sitting in the audience clapping for Carey Price.
That isn’t to take away from the best season of Fleury’s career. He is off to a great start earning his contract extension and Pittsburgh Penguins fans have reason for optimism about another deep playoff run toward the second Stanley Cup of Fleury’s career. The top three finish for the Vezina is nothing to brush off. But the second Stanley Cup ring would go far further to silence his critics.
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