Hello one and all, and welcome to Last Word On Hockey’s mid-season awards. Over the next few days we will reveal our picks for the Vezina, Norris, and Hart Trophy award frontrunners at the midway point. Today’s focus is on the frontrunners for the Vezina Trophy for the NHL’s top goaltender.
Midseason Vezina Trophy Finalists
Last season it was awarded to Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets. This season we could see a new name on the prestigious award. For this, we will name our three finalists as well as an honorable mention.
Team Canada and Washington Capital Headliner Logan Thompson
The native of Calgary, Alberta has been a force this seasaon when many were expecting the Capitals to take a step back this season. His play has led to Thompson being named the Canadian Olympic roster, and expecting to get at least one start in the red and white sweater this February. His record is 15-11-4 at the midway point of the season. As for some underlying numbers, Thompson leads the league in goals saved above average (GSAA) with 15.9.
GSAA is a metric that measures a goaltenders expected goals, versus actual goals against. A positive number like Thompson’s indicates he has saved more goals than the average NHL goaltender would in the same situation. It’s something that the general mangers around the league, the ones who vote on the award, should pay attention to. Logan Thompson could find himself as at least a finalist, if not outright winner, after finishing fourth in the voting last season.
Scott Wedgewood the Emergence of the Backup for the Colorado Avalanche
It would be almost impossible to not pick one of the Avalanche goaltenders for this award. The Av’s are the best team in league, having incredibly only lost in regulation four times so far. On top of that, they have surrendered the least amount of goals at 97. For comparison, the next closest has 112. In net for the majority of the starts is Scott Wedgewood, who has the lowest goals against average (GAA) in the league at 2.20.
The only knock against his candidacy for winning the award could be the fact that he’s playing behind the best defensive unit in the NHL. However that shouldn’t be a factor in him being named as a Vezina Trophy finalist. Without question the William M. Jennings Trophy, which goes to the goalie/s that has given up the least amount of goals, will go to him.
Andrei Vasilevskiy the Long Time Tampa Bay Lightning Starter
A perennial name that has appeared on the voting list for close to a decade, being named a finalist for the first time in 2018. Since then his name has been on it more than not. That speaks to his consistency and longevity for the Lightning. This season he’s back at it again. With a record of 17-7-2 for the Atlantic division leading (for now) Lightning. His GSAA is at 10.5, not as incredible as Thompson but still one of the best goaltenders in recent NHL history. He has also won the award in 2019.
Vezina Honorable Mention is Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bruins
For our honorable mention, what would the Bruins season be at without Jeremy Swayman in net. Recently named to the USA Olympic roster, Swayman has a 16-11-2 record, with a GSAA of 12.4. It’s not hard to think of the Bruins at the bottom of the east without their star netminder. The Bruins find themselves currently outside the playoff picture, but with the east this season that could change in five minutes. For the Bruins to make the playoffs, it’ll have to be on the back of Swayman’s continued success. Don’t be surprised if the Bruins are able to make the playoffs that he gets Vezina consideration.
Main Photo Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports