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2016 NHL Awards watch: Karlsson, Holtby, Kane favorites

By Dave Stevenson

Oct 8, 2015; Buffalo, NY, USA; Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) during the game against the Buffalo Sabres at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2015; Buffalo, NY, USA; Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) during the game against the Buffalo Sabres at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 28, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) warms up before playing against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) warms up before playing against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Vezina Trophy

Everyone’s Vezina Trophy ballot before the season began likely featured Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens and Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers. Both of them have been removed from the conversation (albeit for different reasons). Braden Holtby of the Capitals has emerged as the consensus favorite no matter which stat you like to judge goalies by.

  1. Braden Holtby – Washington Capitals: Holtby has built on his breakout season in 2014-2015 and has become arguably the best goalie in the NHL. Among goalies with at least 19 appearances, he leads the league in wins (24), goals-against average (1.86), and save percentage (93.4 percent). His even strength save percentage of 94.11 percent and even strength adjusted save percentage of 93.91 percent both rank second in the NHL among those with at least 854 minutes played at even strength. He trails only Detroit Red Wings goalie Petr Mrazek in both categories. His numbers are comparable to what Price’s were last season. Holtby doesn’t face as many shots as Price did, but it’s hard to say that he isn’t the best goalie in the NHL right now.
  2. Cory Schneider – New Jersey Devils: Cory Schneider has been almost as good as Holtby on paper this season. The difference: Holtby unquestionably has a better team around him than Schneider does. The New Jersey Devils rely quite heavily on Schneider. Their playoff hopes fall on his shoulders. He has shouldered the load this season. Holtby tends to have a larger margin for error because the Capitals score a ton of goals. Schneider doesn’t have that luxury. He has had to be one of the best goalies in the NHL and he absolutely has been.
  3. Roberto Luongo – Florida Panthers: Every year, NHL fans talk about how this year will be the year that Roberto Luongo begins to show his age. It’s time to start questioning if Luongo has a Lazarus Pit because he’s 36 years old and he’s still deftly avoiding the regression that tends to hit older goaltenders. Among those with at least 19 appearances, he is fourth with a .926 save percentage. His 2.16 GAA isn’t outstanding but considering the Panthers have been playing much better hockey as of late, he should end up with one of the lowest GAAs in the NHL. Luongo might go down as the best goalie ever to not win a Vezina Trophy.

Honorable mentions: Petr Mrazek (Detroit Red Wings), Henrik Lundqvist (New York Rangers), Corey Crawford (Chicago Blackhawks)

Next: Hart Trophy

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