2013 Vezina Trophy Odds and Predictions: Favorites, Dark Horses and Sleepers

2013 Vezina Trophy Odds and Predictions: Favorites, Dark Horses and Sleepers: In the NHL, there is no substitute for a hot goaltender. If the player between the pipes in stopping everything that comes their way, there is really nothing an opponent can do. Given the importance of the position, it is not surprising that the league dedicates an award specifically to goalies. The award is known as the Vezina Trophy, and since 1981, it has been given to the goalie judged to be the best during the NHL’s regular season. Prior to 1981 it was simply given to the team that allowed the fewest goals for a given season, but today, it has essentially become an MVP award of sorts designed specifically for goaltenders. Three of the last for Vezina Trophy recipients have been first-time winners, and the only two-time winner during the stretch was Boston’s Tim Thomas, who is taking the year off. In other words, this year’s race for the Vezina Trophy is as wide open as ever, and here are the players that could take home the honor in 2013.

2013 Vezina Trophy Odds and Predictions: Favorites, Dark Horses and Sleepers

The Favorites

Defending Vezina Trophy winner Henrik Lundqvist has been one of the better goaltenders in the NHL since his rookie season, and he seems to be getting better. He has won at least 30 games in all seven years of his career and has won 35 or more games in six straight. Last year, he won a career-high 39 games while posting a career-best 1.97 goals against average and a career-best .930 save percentage. Lundqvist ranked in the top five in the NHL in every major goalie category last season. Fresh off his best year between the pipes, back-to-back Vezina Trophies is a real possibility for a guy that has been consistently great since he stepped on the ice for the New York Rangers.

After two solid seasons for the Los Angeles Kings, Jonathan Quick became a star last year as he took a team that snuck into the playoffs as a No. 8 seed and helped them win the Stanley Cup. While his incredible postseason performance will be remembered, his regular season numbers were stout, as well. Quick ranked second in the NHL last year with a 1.95 goals against average last year, and his .929 save percentage was fifth best. To top it off, he led all goalies with 10 shutouts. An argument could be made that he should have won the Vezina Trophy last year, and if he carries the momentum from the playoffs in 2013, he become the next first-time winner of the award.

The Dark Horses

The St. Louis Blues are arguably the best defensive team in the NHL, and last year, they gave up the fewest goals of any team. Jaroslav Halak is slated to be the No. 1 starter in net, and after ranking fourth and sixth in goals against average and save percentage last season while splitting time, his numbers could be even better if he does indeed get a bulk of the starts as expected in 2013. Ironically, his biggest obstacle to the Vezina Trophy could be his own teammate Brian Elliott, who actually led the league with a 1.56 goals against average and a .940 save percentage last year in 36 starts. If Elliott proves to be more than just an occasional backup, Halak’s chances of grabbing the Vezina Trophy decrease significantly.

Nashville’s Pekka Rinne is in the middle of the best two-year stretch of his young career, and while his 2.39 goals against average and .923 save percentage from last season weren’t elite, Rinne was a workhorse. No goalie played in more games than Rinne’s 73, no goalie faced more shots, and more importantly, no goalie won more games. He finished the year with a 43-18-8, marking the third straight season he won more than 30 games. Their offseason resigning of defenseman Shea Webber was proof that the Predators are committed to their defensive-minded philosophy, and Rinne will be one of the main beneficiaries. With a shortened season to alleviate some of his workload, Rinne could sneak up and grab the Vezina Tropy.

The Sleepers

He has been hiding in Roberto Luongo’s shadow for a few seasons, but Cory Schneider is set to take over the starting role in Vancouver in 2013. As a backup last year, he finished third in the NHL with a 1.96 goals against average and second with a .937 save percentage. Granted, those numbers came in just 28 starts, but if can sustain that level of performance for an entire season, he will be right in the thick of the conversation for the Vezina Trophy. The Canucks have a solid team that offers plenty of support on both ends of the ice, and Schneider’s first year as a starter could prove to be a special one.

It is tough to get a lot of ice time when you play with the guy that has won two of the last four Vezina Trophies, but Boston’s Tuukka Rask will get his chance to shine after Tim Thomas opted to take a year off. Rask is a former first-round pick in his own right, and when he was forced to fill in for an injured Thomas in 2009-10, he was stellar. He posted a 1.97 goals against average and a .931 save percentage in 39 starts that year, and he has a solid .926 save percentage for his career. If Rask can at least approach the numbers he posted in 2009-10, he should at least be in the conversation for the Vezina Trophy. The fact that the Bruins’ offense is loaded and that Zdeno Chara is one of his defensemen won’t hurt his numbers either.

Get expert NHL handicapping picks, tips and predictions daily from World Champion Handicapper Sonny LaFouchi(aka The LEGEND) only on NSAwins.com! Plus check out daily updated odds to win the 2013 Stanley Cup!