Vezina Trophy Nominees: Top 10 Goalies
Two months ago, Braden Holtby was a run away favorite for Vezina Trophy nominees. Several goaltenders are quietly putting together excellent seasons, with upwards of 10 candidates vying for the award.
The Vezina Trophy is an annual award given to the NHL’s best goaltender.
It was named in honor of Montreal Canadiens legend Georges Vezina. It was first awarded back in 1926-27, and from 1946-47 to 1981-82, the Vezina was awarded to the goaltender on the team with the lowest goals against average.
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Most Vezina Trophy Wins:
7 – Jacques Plante
6 – Dominik Hasek
6 – Bill Durnan
5 – Ken Dryden
4 – Martin Brodeur
4 – Michel Larocque
4 – Terry Sawchuk
4 – Tiny Thompson
3 – Patrick Roy
3 – George Hainsworth
3 – Glenn Hall
3 – Tony Esposito
2 – Ed Belfour
2 – Tim Thomas
2 – Bernie Parent
2 – Gump Worsley
2 – Charlie Hodge
2 – Johnny Bower
2 – Turk Broda
2 – Charlie Gardiner
Vezina Trophy Nominees: Top 10
*statistics not including Saturday’s games
1. Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals
31 wins – 2.07GAA – .928 save percentage – 2 shutouts
Along with teammate Alex Ovechkin, the pair continue to make an argument for Hart Trophy consideration. Washington is arguably the NHL’s best team in 2015-16, and a lot credit is due to the man between the pipes. If the Capitals can advance to the Stanley Cup finals, Holtby will be the most decorated player at the NHL awards.
2. Corey Crawford, Chicago Blackhawks
30 wins – 2.15GAA – .930 save percentage – 7 shutouts
Can we finally stop calling him a decent goalie on a great team? His numbers in 2015-16, including those seven shutouts suggest Corey Crawford deserves more credit for Chicago’s two Stanley Cups in the past three years.
3. Cory Schneider, New Jersey Devils
23 wins – 2.03GAA – .929 save percentage – 4 shutouts
After putting up solid statistics in 2014-15, regardless of New Jersey having one of the NHL’s worst records, Schneider continues his brilliance in 2015-16. The Devils are 26-20-6 with 58 points, flirting with playoff contention. Without Cory Schneider, New Jersey could very well be sitting in the basement of the Eastern Conference.
4. Roberto Luongo, Florida Panthers
23 wins – 2.11GAA – .930 save percentage – 4 shutouts
51 games into the regular season, and the Florida Panthers sit atop the Atlantic Division with 67 points. Led by future Hall-of-famer Jaromir Jagr, and young stars Jonathan Huberdeau, Aleksander Barkov, and Nick Bjugstad, the Panthers are receiving a solid collective team effort, led by the man between the pipes Roberto Luongo. Back-to-back solid seasons puts Luongo in the conversation for Team Canada at the World Cup of Hockey.
5. Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings
27 wins – 2.24GAA – .917 save percentage – 3 shutouts
One of the NHL’s top five goaltenders over the past half decade, Quick is putting together another solid campaign in 2015-16. Los Angeles currently leads the Pacific Division with 65 points, and should be considered favorites in the Western Conference to make a deep playoff run.
6. Ben Bishop, Tampa Bay Lightning
21 wins – 2.02GAA – .926 save percentage – 2 shutouts
After a slow-start, Tampa Bay is beginning to string together wins as they look to close the gap between themselves and the Florida Panthers in the Atlantic Division. Bishop’s stats are comparable to the Holtby’s and Crawford’s of the NHL, but he’ll need to accumulate more starts and wins for stronger consideration.
7. John Gibson, Anaheim Ducks
12 wins – 1.92GAA – .923 save percentage – 4 shutouts
Here’s a guy that would’ve been in the same conversation as Braden Holtby if he had begun the year with Anaheim. A late call-up, John Gibson is arguably one of the NHL’s top performers over the past two months. Ducks goalies aren’t getting much goal support in 2015-16, but John Gibson and Frederik Andersen are giving Anaheim a chance to win each and every night.
8. Martin Jones, San Jose Sharks
24 wins – 2.37GAA – .915 save percentage – 4 shutouts
Arguably the best goaltender over the first two months of the season, Martin Jones continues to play well between the pipes for San Jose. His goals against average would look better with a stronger defensive group in front of him. They rolled the dice in the offseason acquiring Jones, and it’s paid off. The Sharks have security in goal for many years to come.
9. Petr Mrazek, Detroit Red Wings
18 wins – 2.06GAA – .931 save percentage – 3 shutouts
The pending restricted free agent cemented himself as Detroit’s starter once Jimmy Howard‘s play fell off the map. Due for a pay raise in the offseason, the Red Wings have difficult decisions to make already committing north of $5 million/year to Jimmy Howard. Like Bishop, Mrazek’s stats are Holtby-like, but with several fewer minutes played. He’ll need more wins and minutes to generate consideration to be in the group of Vezina Trophy nominees.
Next: Calder Trophy Race: Rookie Candidates
10. Jaroslav Halak, New York Islanders
12 wins – 2.18GAA – .921 save percentage – 2 shutouts
He’s missed some time due to injury – opened the season on the IR. After breaking several Islanders goaltending records in 2014-15, Halak continues to be a brick wall for New York in 2015-16 (even with a mediocre defense core struggling to stay healthy). The solid performances are refreshing, but Halak needs to put together a 60+ start season to prove himself.