Bobrovsky, Demko or Hellebuyck: Who will win the Vezina Trophy?

The NHL has announced the three finalists for the Vezina Trophy, which is awarded to the best goaltender in the regular season. The nominees include two-time winner Sergei Bobrovsky of the Florida Panthers, Thatcher Demko of the Vancouver Canucks and Connor Hellebuyck of Winnipeg.

Bobrovsky is a finalist for the fourth time in his career

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovskyhas made the final three for the fourth time in his career, having won the prized trophy, which has also been won six times in the past by Dominik Hasek, in the 2012-13 and 2016-17 seasons. Bobrovsky picked up six clean sheets and 36 game-winning goals in the regular season.

He maintained a goals-against average of 2.37 per game and had a hitting percentage of 91.5 percent. He did all of this in 58 regular season games.

He was the best in the number of clean saves along with three other goalies. He ranked 3rd in goals against average and was in the “top seven” in shot success rate. Bobrovsky’s performance contributed to Florida’s first place finish in the Atlantic Division.

Hellebuyck also made the final three for the fourth time in his career

Connor Hellebuyck has already won the William M. Jennings Trophy this season, which is awarded to goaltenders who play in at least 25 regular season games and is awarded to the team with the fewest goals in the regular season. Which was Winnipeg’s team, which only received 199 goals in the entire regular season.

The Jets goaltender won the Vezina Trophy in the 2019-20 season. He finished third in the previous season and second in the 2017-18 season. Hellebuyck started 60 regular season games, picking up 37 wins and keeping four clean sheets.

He kept his goals-against average at 2.39 and had a shot success rate above 92 percent. He ranked second in both game wins and shot success rate. In addition, he was fourth in goals-against average and with 1,656 saves, only Predators goalie Juuse Saros was better in the regular season.

The third nominee, Thatcher Demko

Vancouver’s Thatcher Demko was a major contributor to his team’s great performance in the regular season. Demko appeared in 51 games, registering 35 game-winning goals.

However, on March 9, he suffered an injury that caused him to miss 14 games. Still, his performances during the regular season impressed enough to make it to the final three.

The winner of this prestigious trophy will be announced in a few weeks. Last year’s winner, Linus Ullmark of Boston, is missing from the list. It will most likely be decided between the duo Bobrovsky – Hellebuyck. Bobrovsky, who has already made it to the next round with Florida, looks great in the playoffs. Hellebuyck is on the verge of elimination with the Jets.

Source: NHL