Igor Shesterkin is one goaltender even the most high-scoring teams cringe at when they learn they have to face him. And the NY Rangers star goaltender is at it once again, boasting a shutout, a 0.935 save percentage, and a 1.97 GAA in four starts. But for all it’s worth, I’m not yet ranking Shesterkin as the top contender for the Vezina Trophy.
And no, it’s not because he’s currently goaltending for the best team in hockey since all the names listed below are minding the net for playoff-caliber teams. But overall productivity is what’s putting Shesterkin a cut below the three names on this list, including two surprises.
1 - Jake Oettinger, Dallas Stars
Jake Oettinger has often been a goaltender I wanted to place into the top tier but couldn’t, thanks to his sheer inconsistency. But if he keeps playing the way he does, there’s nobody in the league who will get the best of him, perhaps not even the player I have ranked in the middle of this list.
As of Tuesday, Oettinger has an incredible 0.953 save percentage, a 1.48 GAA, and a shutout, so he has yet to have a bad game. Having signed a recent contract extension, I’m also sure Oettinger is just getting warmed up for what should be an incredible season.
2 - Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets
Earlier in the calendar year, I said Connor Hellebuyck was the only goaltender I’d have ranked over Shesterkin, and that remains the case. In fact, I’m regretting NOT putting Shesterkin ahead of Oettinger, and a strong contingent of fans would probably do just that.
Anyway, Hellebuyck also has a shutout, with a 0.952 save percentage and an incredible 1.25 GAA, so he’s once again on the Vezina-winning path. Overall, I don’t feel as though he’s playing for a team with as much talent as Oettinger has with the Stars, making his run right now in Winnipeg even more impressive.
3 - Anthony Stolarz, Toronto Maple Leafs
Yeah, surprise. But right now, if there’s a dark horse candidate to snag the Vezina, it’s Anthony Stolarz, who looks like the solution at the moment in Toronto. While he has yet to record a shutout, Stolarz has been stellar for a Leafs team that could have used his services last season, as they were almost all offense with little to no defense or netminding.
Anyway, Stolarz is currently boasting a 0.938 save percentage and a 1.83 GAA. His 3-2 record isn’t impressive, but for now, he’s somebody who no one saw coming at this point in the season. While I doubt Stolarz will keep up this pace, he’s currently snuck his way into my top three and has become a legitimate contender to steal a Vezina.