The NHL is simply over a 3rd of the best way by means of the 2024-25season, and with that, there’s been loads of star performances within the internet.
Many goaltenders have separated themselves from the remainder of the pack as elite of their internet; who will get the Vezina Trophy because the league’s greatest? Let’s check out the candidates:
Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets
Hellebuyck has cemented himself as one of many league’s prime goalies over the previous few seasons. He has already captured the Vezina Trophy in 2019-20 and 2023-24 and has the fourth-highest save proportion since 2019 (amongst goalies who’ve performed greater than 150 video games).
This season, he is third within the league in save proportion, second in objectives in opposition to common and first in wins. Analytically, based on MoneyPuck, he is first within the league with 16.8 objectives saved above anticipated and has the third-highest save proportion on unblocked pictures. These statistics are all of the extra spectacular because the Jets enable the Tenth-most pictures on aim per recreation (29.1)
Hellebuyck definitely can be a nominee if he retains up these numbers. His Jets additionally sit second total within the league; if he can make them the President’s Trophy, he’ll have an incredible case for his third Vezina.
Filip Gustavsson, Minnesota Wild
The Wild are a stunning workforce this season, presently main the league, with the Jets, with 42 factors and a .750-win proportion as of Wednesday. A giant motive for that’s Gustavsson. His .927 save proportion in 21 video games is second amongst goaltenders and his goals-against common of two.07 tops all.
Moreover, these numbers include Minnesota rating within the higher half of the league (14th) in permitting pictures, with 28.9 in opposition to per recreation. Gustavsson has performed in 21 of the Wild’s 28 video games, dropping simply 4 of them. Of these 21 video games, 9 of them noticed him cease 30 or extra pictures.
The Swedish-born netminder definitely may have a case for being topped the very best goalie of the 2024-25 season. With a fourth-ranked 12.6 objectives saved above common, he is an enormous motive why Minnesota has been a prime workforce this season. Barring any late-season struggles, he’ll be a reputation on many Vezina ballots on the finish of the season.
Lukas Dostal, Anaheim Geese
Dostal could not in the end win the Vezina Trophy as a consequence of his workforce’s poor play, however his statistics in internet deserve recognition nonetheless. Regardless of the Geese’ poor file, Dostal has the league’s fourth-highest save proportion (.921) and the second-most objectives saved above anticipated (14.0).
Moreover, NHL Edge exhibits his save proportion on high-danger possibilities (.833) is properly above the league common of .807 and his proportion of video games with a save proportion greater than .900 (68.8) ranks within the eighty fifth percentile of goaltenders.
Dostal ought to get some votes on the finish of the season, however his workforce’s efficiency could also be his downfall. Regardless, it appears to be like like Anaheim has discovered its netminder of the longer term, and at simply 24 years previous, Dostal could also be on his approach to many Vezina Trophy nominations in his profession.
