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NHL Awards Watch: Top 5 Vezina Trophy candidates

By Dave Stevenson

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 22: Braden Holtby of the Washington Capitals poses after winning the Vezina Trophy named for the top goaltender at the 2016 NHL Awards at the Hard Rock Hotel
LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 22: Braden Holtby of the Washington Capitals poses after winning the Vezina Trophy named for the top goaltender at the 2016 NHL Awards at the Hard Rock Hotel /
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Jan 23, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) prepares to make a save on Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Justin Faulk (27) in the first period at Verizon Center. The Capitals won 6-1. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Will Braden Holtby defend his Vezina Trophy? Here are the top five Vezina Trophy candidates and the cases both for and against them. 

Each season, the Vezina Trophy goes to the NHL goaltender “adjudged to be the best at his position”. This award is especially controversial because it’s hard to judge just how good a goalie is. It’s not fair to judge them by wins because hockey is a team game. While save percentage is a better stat to use, it still has flaws. Not all saves are equal, so save percentage isn’t the best way to judge a goalie.

Recently, hockey analytics have come up with new ways to determine how good a goalie is. Goals saved above average is just one of these stats. They’ve also come up with ways to determine a goalie’s expected save percentage using the league average save percentage from the shot area. With the way fans evaluate goalies changing constantly, maybe this is the year they start being taken seriously in Vezina voting. Unless otherwise noted, each stat is at even strength (five on five).

Here are the top five Vezina Trophy candidates and the cases for and against them.

Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
5

Carey Price

Goaltender, Montreal Canadiens

The case for Price: Even though Carey Price had a mediocre first half (by his lofty standards), he’s still in a solid position to get some Vezina votes. The Canadiens goaltender is tied for seventh in wins (22) and overall save percentage (.921) as the post All-Star break part of the season begins.

Voters have a high opinion of Price, as he has three top five Vezina finishes over the past five years. Though his stats aren’t impressive, it wouldn’t surprise anyone to see him among the league leaders at the end of the season. Montreal has a subpar expected Fenwick save percentage (xFSv percentage), which suggests Price is doing better than his numbers suggest.

The case against Price: Right now, his stats simply aren’t good enough to have a serious chance of winning the Vezina. This is largely due to an uncharacteristically long slump lasting from the start of December. However, it’s important to note Price entered December as arguably the top Vezina candidate. While a turnaround shouldn’t surprise anyone, he has a long road ahead of him if he wants to win his second Vezina Trophy.

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