Vezina Trophy

The Vezina Trophy (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell) is awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) goaltender who is "adjudged to be the best at this position".<ref name="Vezina history"/> At the end of each season, the thirty-two NHL general managers vote to determine the winner. It is named in honour of Georges Vezina, goaltender of the Montreal Canadiens from 1910 until 1925, who died in 1926 of tuberculosis. The trophy was first awarded after the 1926–27 NHL season and was awarded to the top goaltender. From Template:NHL Year to Template:NHL Year, the trophy went to the goaltender(s) of the team allowing the fewest goals during the regular season;<ref name="Vezina history">Template:Cite web</ref> since the 1981–82 season, the William M. Jennings Trophy has been awarded for this accomplishment.

The most recent winner is Connor Hellebuyck who won his third overall and second consecutive for the 2024–25 season.

History

The Vezina Trophy was named in honor of Georges Vezina, an exceptional goaltender with the Montreal Canadiens. Vezina collapsed during a game in 1925 and was diagnosed as having tuberculosis, of which he died in 1926. Upon Vezina's death, the trophy was donated to the League by the Canadiens' owners, Leo Dandurand, Louis Letourneau and Joe Cattarinich to honour Vezina permanently. It was first awarded at the end of the 1926–27 NHL season to George Hainsworth who had come to Montreal to succeed Vezina.<ref name="Vezina history"/>

The trophy was accepted by the league at its May 15, 1927, meeting in Montreal.<ref name="mongazette-1927">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="tgm-cite">Template:Cite news</ref> The criteria for winning was variously reported. The Montreal Gazette and The Globe and Mail reported that it was 'to be awarded each year to the goaltender in the National Hockey League having the best (goals against) average,'<ref name="mongazette-1927"/><ref name="tgm-cite"/> while the Toronto Star reported that the trophy went to the 'most valuable' goaltender in the league.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> When Hainsworth won his third Vezina at the end of the 1928–29 NHL season, the trophy was reported to be for the 'most outstanding' goaltender in the league.<ref name="telegraphherald-1929">Template:Cite news</ref> However, later reports state that the trophy was based on the lowest goals against average (GAA).<ref name="mongazette-1936">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="windsorstar-1939">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="leaderpost-1942">Template:Cite news</ref>

The Vezina Trophy was quite prestigious, as it was one of the three major personal awards given out by the National Hockey League at the time, along with the Hart Trophy and the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy.<ref name="ottcit-1933">Template:Cite news</ref> The hockey media closely follow a tight "Vezina Trophy race,"<ref name="mongazette-1941">Template:Cite news</ref> such as in Template:NHL Year, when Frank Brimsek, Turk Broda, and Johnny Mowers were separated by only three goals entering the final weekend of the season.<ref name="mongazette-1941"/><ref name="theday-1941">Template:Cite news</ref>

1946 to 1981

In February 1946, the NHL stated that the trophy was to go to the team that allowed the fewest goals during the regular season. The goaltender playing the most games for that team would be awarded the trophy.<ref name="ottcit-vez-change">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="tgm-012546">Template:Cite news</ref> Manager Tommy Gorman of the Montreal Canadiens stated that if the trophy was awarded to his team, management would decide which of the Habs' two goaltenders (Paul Bibeault and Bill Durnan) would receive the trophy.<ref name="tgm-012546"/> However, at a banquet that October, NHL President Clarence Campbell indicated that while the league was considering changing the voting methods of the Calder, Hart, and Lady Byng Trophies, the criteria for the Vezina were not changing.<ref name="windsorstar-1946">Template:Cite news</ref>

Since it was common for goaltenders to start every game before 1950, the Vezina usually went to the goaltender with the lowest personal goals against average in the league; however, there were two notable exceptions. George Hainsworth was awarded the inaugural trophy, while Clint Benedict had the lowest GAA in Template:NHL Year. Hainsworth's Canadiens allowed fewer goals as a team than Benedict's Maroons. Wilf Cude had the lowest GAA in Template:NHL Year in 30 games split between the Detroit Red Wings and Canadiens, but the Vezina was awarded to Charlie Gardiner, who started all 48 games for the Chicago Black Hawks, the team that allowed the fewest goals.

The National Hockey League lengthened the schedule to 70 games starting in Template:NHL Year. Before then, it was very common for a goaltender to play every minute of his team's season, and only two Vezina winners—Frank Brimsek in both Template:NHL Year (43 of 48 games) and Template:NHL Year (47 of 48 games) and Bill Durnan in Template:NHL Year (40 of 50 games)—failed to start every game for their respective clubs.

As teams started to use more than one goaltender in a season regularly, it became increasingly common for the goaltender with the lowest GAA not to be a member of the team that allowed the fewest goals. The Vezina continued to be awarded to the goaltender who started the most games for the team that allowed the fewest goals, but the Vezina winners of Template:NHL Year, Template:NHL Year, Template:NHL Year and Template:NHL Year did not have the lowest GAAs.

The National Hockey League began allowing teammates to split the Vezina Trophy following the 1964–65 NHL season. The Toronto Maple Leafs allowed 173 goals against (0 empty net goals), barely beating out Detroit's 175 goals against (3 empty net goals), and Chicago's 176 goals against (3 empty net goals). Toronto Terry Sawchuk played 36 games for the Leafs with a GAA of 2.56, while his teammate Johnny Bower played 34 games with a league-leading GAA of 2.38, but Sawchuk was to be the sole winner under the old criteria. During the season, the two agreed to split the $1000 prize money that came with the trophy if either of them won. At the end of the season, Sawchuk publicly stated that he would refuse the trophy if Bower would not also have his name inscribed.<ref name="readingeagle-1965">Template:Cite news</ref> The NHL subsequently changed the rule to allow any goaltender on the team who allowed the fewest goals against to qualify for the Vezina if he played at least 25 games, and applied this rule retroactively to Sawchuk and Bower.<ref name="breedapart">Template:Cite book,</ref> Under this criterion, Turk Broda would have shared the Vezina that Al Rollins won in Template:NHL Year. This criterion was in place until Template:NHL Year.<ref name="Vezina history"/>

The Vezina criteria had the trophy going to the goaltender(s) of the team that was best at preventing goals, not necessarily the best individual goaltender of the year. The best goaltender, as voted by the media, was the NHL first team All-Star. These often differed, such as in Template:NHL Year when Don Edwards and Bob Sauve shared the Vezina while Tony Esposito was named to the First Team. During the 1973–74 NHL season, the Chicago Black Hawks and Philadelphia Flyers finished tied for the fewest goals against; therefore their respective goaltenders, Tony Esposito and Bernie Parent, were both awarded the trophy, the only time that it would be shared between two players from different teams. For 1973–74 the media voted Parent a First Team All-Star and Esposito a Second Team All-Star.<ref name="Vezina history"/> Glenn Hall, who played for Detroit, Chicago and St. Louis during his career, was voted the First Team All-Star goaltender the most times of any goaltender, seven times, but only won the Vezina Trophy as the goaltender on the team allowing the fewest goals against three times. By contrast, Jacques Plante, was awarded the Vezina Trophy seven times, six of those when with the very dominant Montreal Canadiens of the 1950s and 1960s, but was voted as the First Team All-Star only three times. Plante's seventh Vezina Trophy was shared with Hall as they shared goaltending duties for the St. Louis Blues in 1968–69 when that team allowed the fewest goals in the league; Hall was voted as the First Team All-Star that year.

1981 to the present

As of the 1981–82 NHL season, the Vezina Trophy has been given to the most outstanding goaltender as voted by the general managers of the NHL teams.<ref name="Vezina history3">Template:Cite web</ref> Billy Smith of the New York Islanders was the first winner of the Vezina under the current system. The William M. Jennings Trophy, given to the goaltender(s) who play(s) a minimum of 25 games for the team that allows the fewest goals, serves the function of the old Vezina.

The voting is conducted at the end of the regular season by the 32 general managers of the teams in the National Hockey League, with all individual voters ranking their top three candidates on a 5–3–1 points system.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Three finalists are named and the trophy is awarded at the NHL Awards ceremony after the playoffs.

Records and distinctions

Jacques Plante holds the record for winning the most Vezinas with seven, followed by Bill Durnan and Dominik Hasek, who have won six each. Hasek has won the most awards under the current criterion of voting for the best individual goalie.<ref name="Vezina history" /> Players for the Montreal Canadiens have won the Vezina 29 times.<ref name="Vezina history" />

Only five players have won both the Vezina and Hart Memorial Trophy for the same season: Jacques Plante for Template:NHL Year; Dominik Hasek twice, for Template:NHL Year and Template:NHL Year; Jose Theodore for Template:NHL Year; Carey Price for Template:NHL Year; and Connor Hellebuyck for Template:NHL Year. Two other goaltenders have won the Vezina and Hart trophies in separate seasons: Roy Worters (Hart Template:NHL Year, Vezina Template:NHL Year) and Al Rollins (Vezina Template:NHL Year, Hart Template:NHL Year). Chuck Rayner is the only goaltender who has won the Hart Memorial Trophy (which he did in Template:NHL Year) but never won the Vezina Trophy.<ref name="Hart history">Template:Cite web</ref>

Winners

1927–81

Turk Broda, two-time winner.

Tony Esposito, three-time winner.

Patrick Roy, three-time winner.

Dominik Hasek, six-time winner.

Martin Brodeur, four-time winner.

Miikka Kiprusoff, one-time winner.

Tim Thomas, two-time winner.

Sergei Bobrovsky, two-time winner.

Carey Price, one-time winner.

Connor Hellebuyck, three-time winner

When introduced, the Vezina Trophy was awarded to the top goaltender in the league. Several winners, including Hainsworth in 1927 and Gardiner in 1934, did not have the lowest goals-against average. In 1946, the NHL Governors further clarified the criteria for winning. It was to go to the team with the fewest goals scored against it during the season. The goalie playing the most games for the team was awarded the trophy.<ref name="ottcit-vez-change"/> In 1965, the NHL Governors began allowing teammates to share the Vezina Trophy. From 1965 to 1981, the Vezina was awarded to any goaltenders who played 25 or more games for the team allowing the fewest goals against.

Season	Winner	Team	Win #
Template:NHL Year	George Hainsworth	Montreal Canadiens	1
Template:NHL Year	George Hainsworth	Montreal Canadiens	2
Template:NHL Year	George Hainsworth	Montreal Canadiens	3
Template:NHL Year	Tiny Thompson	Boston Bruins	1
Template:NHL Year	Roy Worters	New York Americans	1
Template:NHL Year	Charlie Gardiner	Chicago Black Hawks	1
Template:NHL Year	Tiny Thompson	Boston Bruins	2
Template:NHL Year	Charlie Gardiner	Chicago Black Hawks	2
Template:NHL Year	Lorne Chabot	Chicago Black Hawks	1
Template:NHL Year	Tiny Thompson	Boston Bruins	3
Template:NHL Year	Normie Smith	Detroit Red Wings	1
Template:NHL Year	Tiny Thompson	Boston Bruins	4
Template:NHL Year	Frank Brimsek	Boston Bruins	1
Template:NHL Year	David Kerr	New York Rangers	1
Template:NHL Year	Turk Broda	Toronto Maple Leafs	1
Template:NHL Year	Frank Brimsek	Boston Bruins	2
Template:NHL Year	Johnny Mowers	Detroit Red Wings	1
Template:NHL Year	Bill Durnan	Montreal Canadiens	1
Template:NHL Year	Bill Durnan	Montreal Canadiens	2
Template:NHL Year	Bill Durnan	Montreal Canadiens	3
Template:NHL Year	Bill Durnan	Montreal Canadiens	4
Template:NHL Year	Turk Broda	Toronto Maple Leafs	2
Template:NHL Year	Bill Durnan	Montreal Canadiens	5
Template:NHL Year	Bill Durnan	Montreal Canadiens	6
Template:NHL Year	Al Rollins	Toronto Maple Leafs	1
Template:NHL Year	Terry Sawchuk	Detroit Red Wings	1
Template:NHL Year	Terry Sawchuk	Detroit Red Wings	2
Template:NHL Year	Harry Lumley	Toronto Maple Leafs	1
Template:NHL Year	Terry Sawchuk	Detroit Red Wings	3
Template:NHL Year	Jacques Plante	Montreal Canadiens	1
Template:NHL Year	Jacques Plante	Montreal Canadiens	2
Template:NHL Year	Jacques Plante	Montreal Canadiens	3
Template:NHL Year	Jacques Plante	Montreal Canadiens	4
Template:NHL Year	Jacques Plante	Montreal Canadiens	5
Template:NHL Year	Johnny Bower	Toronto Maple Leafs	1
Template:NHL Year	Jacques Plante	Montreal Canadiens	6
Template:NHL Year	Glenn Hall	Chicago Black Hawks	1
Template:NHL Year	Charlie Hodge	Montreal Canadiens	1
Template:NHL Year	Johnny Bower	Toronto Maple Leafs	2
	Terry Sawchuk		4
Template:NHL Year	Gump Worsley	Montreal Canadiens	1
	Charlie Hodge		2
Template:NHL Year	Glenn Hall	Chicago Black Hawks	2
	Denis DeJordy		1
Template:NHL Year	Gump Worsley	Montreal Canadiens	2
	Rogatien Vachon		1
Template:NHL Year	Glenn Hall	St. Louis Blues	3
	Jacques Plante		7
Template:NHL Year	Tony Esposito	Chicago Black Hawks	1
Template:NHL Year	Eddie Giacomin	New York Rangers	1
	Gilles Villemure		1
Template:NHL Year	Tony Esposito	Chicago Black Hawks	2
	Gary Smith		1
Template:NHL Year	Ken Dryden	Montreal Canadiens	1
Template:NHL Year	Tony Esposito	Chicago Black Hawks	3
	Bernie Parent	Philadelphia Flyers	1
Template:NHL Year	Bernie Parent		2
Template:NHL Year	Ken Dryden	Montreal Canadiens	2
Template:NHL Year	Ken Dryden	Montreal Canadiens	3
	Michel Larocque		1
Template:NHL Year	Ken Dryden	Montreal Canadiens	4
	Michel Larocque		2
Template:NHL Year	Ken Dryden	Montreal Canadiens	5
	Michel Larocque		3
Template:NHL Year	Don Edwards	Buffalo Sabres	1
	Bob Sauve		1
Template:NHL Year	Denis Herron	Montreal Canadiens	1
	Michel Larocque		4
	Richard Sevigny		1

1981–present

The NHL adopted the current criteria for the Vezina Trophy beginning in 1981–82. The William M. Jennings Trophy was created as a new award for the goaltender(s) playing 25 or more games for the team allowing the fewest goals against.

Season	Winner	Team	Win #
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	New York Islanders	1
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	Boston Bruins	1
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	Buffalo Sabres	1
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	Philadelphia Flyers	1
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	New York Rangers	1
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	Philadelphia Flyers	1
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	Edmonton Oilers	1
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	Montreal Canadiens	1
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	Montreal Canadiens	2
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	Chicago Blackhawks	1
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	Montreal Canadiens	3
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	Chicago Blackhawks	2
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	Buffalo Sabres	1
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	Buffalo Sabres	2
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	Washington Capitals	1
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	Buffalo Sabres	3
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	Buffalo Sabres	4
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	Buffalo Sabres	5
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	Washington Capitals	1
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	Buffalo Sabres	6
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	Montreal Canadiens	1
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	New Jersey Devils	1
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	New Jersey Devils	2
Template:NHL Year	Season cancelled due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	Calgary Flames	1
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	New Jersey Devils	3
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	New Jersey Devils	4
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	Boston Bruins	1
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	Buffalo Sabres	1
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	Boston Bruins	2
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	New York Rangers	1
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	Columbus Blue Jackets	1
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	Boston Bruins	1
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	Montreal Canadiens	1
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	Washington Capitals	1
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	Columbus Blue Jackets	2
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	Nashville Predators	1
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	Tampa Bay Lightning	1
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	Winnipeg Jets	1
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	Vegas Golden Knights	1
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	New York Rangers	1
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	Boston Bruins	1
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	Winnipeg Jets	2
Template:NHL Year	Template:Sortname	Winnipeg Jets	3

See also

• List of National Hockey League awards
• List of NHL players
• List of NHL statistical leaders
• William M. Jennings Trophy

References

General

• Vezina Trophy history Template:Webarchive at Legends of Hockey.net
• Vezina Trophy at NHL.com
• Vezina Trophy voting history at The Goaltender Home Page—Complete voting history from 1981 to 1982 (when the award switched to a voting criterion) to present.

Specific