My thoughts going into this new blog....

please don't please don't please don't find a way to talk about the Flyers.....

Uggghh who am I kidding

No-brainer. Lundqvist. The only reason why the Rangers have been in it. He is the best goalie in the NHL right now.

I like how you make fun of someone misspelling a word and then type the phrase, "Sorry,I know that's lame but it will full of comedy after awards night" which I'm pretty sure is an incomplete thought and has spacing errors.
- jmatchett383

Okay,okay my bad...I thought Flyers fans would have been more upset that Bob was on another team and doing well,while they were stuck with Bryz.I actually like and the respect the Flyers,Flyers organization and fans...and to be honest, I don't have my finger anywhere near the pulse of whats going on with that team.So no trolling the Flyers boards for me...but I will still call it the "Vesna" because I think it's funny.

he got a better trophy, stop being a baby
- jimbro83

I'm being a baby because I'm stating the obvious? Stop being a moron.

I'm being a baby because I'm stating the obvious? Stop being a moron.
- Ersberg

you are a baby because you won the Stanley Cup last season, enjoy it

I voted for Ward, because I've got my Eye on Carolina...well that & the Canes were 13-8-1 & in 1st place in the Southleast with Ward...

AND are 3-11-1 since he went down with a knee injury...now tied for 13th in the East
And still Free falling!!!

Epic collapse

Im going to use the term "lead the league" but its just to imply right near top/lead.

I recall a certain Tim Thomas leading the league in GAA and SV% a few years ago. Then, on an off year for Timmy T, Rask led the league in GAA and SV%. The following year, Timmy the floppy fish Thomas lead the league in GAA and SV%. This year, a man named Rask is atop the league in GAA and SV%. If you ask me, Boston could make Vesa Toskala a perennial Vezina candidate.

My pick before the season for vezina was Rask. Not because he is on the level of Hank, Rinne, Price or Quick, but because he is Boston's goalie.

So, because Hank is the favorite to win IMO if BOB can't make the playoffs, im going to be bias and say Price raises his stats to .922 and 2.16 and wins the Vez.

I voted for Ward, because I've got my Eye on Carolina...well that & the Canes were 13-8-1 & in 1st place in the Southleast with Ward...

AND are 3-11-1 since he went down with a knee injury...now tied for 13th in the East
And still Free falling!!!

Epic collapse
- rocheccw

If the Rangers lost Hank you think the Rangers would be in a better position? If the Rangers lost Hank they would be dead last.

Antti Niemi 19 Wins, 2.14 GAA, .924 SV %

Niklas Backstrom 20 Wins, 2.44 GAA, .913 SV %

Henrik Lundqvist 17 Wins, 2.07 GAA, .928 SV %

In that order, of course Niemi will not be in talks cause sportswriters on the east coast have never seen him play. If you add in shootout wins, Niemi would look more impressive.

Antti Niemi 19 Wins, 2.14 GAA, .924 SV %

Niklas Backstrom 20 Wins, 2.44 GAA, .913 SV %

Henrik Lundqvist 17 Wins, 2.07 GAA, .928 SV %

In that order, of course Niemi will not be in talks cause sportswriters on the east coast have never seen him play. If you add in shootout wins, Niemi would look more impressive.
- Orange Julius

Except sports writers dont vote for the Vezina, NHL GMs do.

And Backstrom? No, not a chance.

James Reimer got 8% of the vote, yet, The Leafs were trying to acquire Luongo up to the last minute of trade deadline for some reason
- jimbro83

He only got votes because this site has so many leaf fans.

So, because Hank is the favorite to win IMO if BOB can't make the playoffs, im going to be bias and say Price raises his stats to .922 and 2.16 and wins the Vez.
- ShudBeFamous

Those numbers would still put him behind the all-world stylings of Antti Niemi (and probably with fewer games player), not to mention Bobrovsky, Schneider, Lundqvist, Rask, and both Chicago goalies. Price is good, but it would take a superhuman push from him and some severe fall-offs from some others for him to win it.

Also, unlike the Hart, the Vezina has nothing to do with the team's performance, as it is given to to goalie who is "adjudged to be the best at this position," so his team's record should have nothing to do with it.

Those numbers would still put him behind the all-world stylings of Antti Niemi (and probably with fewer games player), not to mention Bobrovsky, Schneider, Lundqvist, Rask, and both Chicago goalies. Price is good, but it would take a superhuman push from him and some severe fall-offs from some others for him to win it.

Also, unlike the Hart, the Vezina has nothing to do with the team's performance, as it is given to to goalie who is "adjudged to be the best at this position," so his team's record should have nothing to do with it.
- jmatchett383

You're partially right on that one, record, save%, GAA, and shutouts aren't everything, but a goalie needs to be able to at lease make the playoffs. If they don't, it means they warn't able to win the games for them. Your argument might be that not every team has the offensive power as Chicago and Penguins, but that just means Chicago goalies didn't get the chance to be put in that position.

Price? Seriously? Too many homers around here...

Niemi, Bob, Hank, and Raask are the real candidates. Emery hasnt played enough to be in consideration.

Bob and Raask have fewer starts at the moment, and to me that brings them down a bit. Niemi plays on a more sound team than Hank, at least this season.

As much as I hate to say any Ranger deserves anything, its Hank all the way.

Antti Niemi 19 Wins, 2.14 GAA, .924 SV %

Niklas Backstrom 20 Wins, 2.44 GAA, .913 SV %

Henrik Lundqvist 17 Wins, 2.07 GAA, .928 SV %

In that order, of course Niemi will not be in talks cause sportswriters on the east coast have never seen him play. If you add in shootout wins, Niemi would look more impressive.
- Orange Julius

I don't think you'll find many arguing against Niemi but when you list 3 categories and Hank is better than him in 2 it's not up for too much debate

Price? Seriously? Too many homers around here...

Niemi, Bob, Hank, and Raask are the real candidates. Emery hasnt played enough to be in consideration.

Bob and Raask have fewer starts at the moment, and to me that brings them down a bit. Niemi plays on a more sound team than Hank, at least this season.

As much as I hate to say any Ranger deserves anything, its Hank all the way.
- thickman1178

Yes, because Hank has been perfect soooo many times this year with his total of Zero shutouts this year.
Anyone who wins the Vezina at lease needs one!!

Yes, because Hank has been perfect soooo many times this year with his total of Zero shutouts this year.
Anyone who wins the Vezina at lease needs one!!
- l3ig_l2ecl

Well, when you play 33 games, and for the first 30 your team can barely put up 1 goal... that can happen. Especially when the defense starts collapsing and confidence didnt exist in the locker room.

However, things keep going the way they do, Hank will get a couple before seasons end.

I'm sure he'll get Ed Snider's vote.

You're partially right on that one, record, save%, GAA, and shutouts aren't everything, but a goalie needs to be able to at lease make the playoffs. If they don't, it means they warn't able to win the games for them. Your argument might be that not every team has the offensive power as Chicago and Penguins, but that just means Chicago goalies didn't get the chance to be put in that position.
- l3ig_l2ecl

No, my argument is that the definition of the award does not mention the performance of the goalie's team, but rather the performance of the individual.

By your logic, a goalie could face 50 shots a game, lose every game 1-0 in a shootout, and he therefore would not be the goalie "adjudged to be the best at this position" because his team didn't make the playoffs. If you can tell me where the criteria lays in the definition of the Vezina where the team must be good in order for the goalie to win, then we'll discuss Price.

Well, when you play 33 games, and for the first 30 your team can barely put up 1 goal... that can happen. Especially when the defense starts collapsing and confidence didnt exist in the locker room.
- aecliptic

Don't you put down Bryzgalov like that!

Yes, because Hank has been perfect soooo many times this year with his total of Zero shutouts this year.
Anyone who wins the Vezina at lease needs one!!
- l3ig_l2ecl

so the Rangers beat Carolina 4-1 the other night and Henrik made 48 saves.

How is that not better than a goalie who gets a 5-0 shutout and only faced 13 shots, as an example?

No, my argument is that the definition of the award does not mention the performance of the goalie's team, but rather the performance of the individual.

By your logic, a goalie could face 50 shots a game, lose every game 1-0 in a shootout, and he therefore would not be the goalie "adjudged to be the best at this position" because his team didn't make the playoffs. If you can tell me where the criteria lays in the definition of the Vezina where the team must be good in order for the goalie to win, then we'll discuss Price.
- jmatchett383

The team might be low on confidence. Him letting that one goal lost all confidence for that teams to go out there and get one. This is why people say it's the "important" saves that matter. You said someone is a "homer" for considering Price. Why because his save% is lower?, or his GAA? If you'd whatch him play you would see that he makes the saves that matter which leads to him having 19 wins and 3 shutouts along with a respectful GAA and SA%. You would also see that because the team is so much on the offence, most goals he let in are on the PP or oddmen rush where he has absolutely no chances.

I think Hank is a superb goalie. Definately top 5, and that the Rags do suck. However he is putting us a slightly above .500, with no shutouts.

Assuming he stays healthy the rest of the way and remains ridiculously ahead statistically, Anderson, without question.

Anyone who says Lundqvist shouldn't at least get a nomination is either a liar or a hypocrite (or they don't follow hockey). I'm not sure about Bruins fans, but I know that Red Sox fans fit into both of these categories, so....
- jmatchett383

Not allowed to have an opinion here i guess since i root for Boston teams. Tuukka has better percentages including three shutouts to hanks zero. 1 less win in 6 less games. Less overall saves which is based on the less starts. He has also been a beast in the shootout. Quantity could kill Tuukkas chance.

It could be any of the three. This month will be the Vezina campaign.

Emery has been impressive, but only starting 16 games will hurt him. If he is in the running, then Craig Anderson should win it. He was playing better than any goalie in the NHL before he got hurt.
- cap1681

If Anderson plays 28 games (and the King plays 38) and is ahead in save% and GAA, do you not give it to him because he got hurt?