The leading candidate all season has been Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres. He has consistently been at or near the top of the GAA and Save% stats. Lately people who don’t see a lot of West Coast games have come to realize that Ilya Bryzgalov is the biggest reason Phenix has surprised everyone with their strong season – he’s leding in shutouts and third in wins. Of course there are other candidates – who would have predicted Tuukka Rask taking over as #1 in Boston from the reigning Vezina trophy winner – much less leading the league in GAA and save% himself , as he does today including being the only goalie with an average under 2.00.

Prior to 1982 the Vezina was awarded simply to the goalie(s) with the team that allowed the fewest regular season goals. As I write this New Jersey and Boston are tied with 181 goals against. Since 1982 though the NHL GMs have voted on the best goalie and the WIlliam Jennings trophy took on the old Vezina criteria.

Under the current formula there have never been different winners from the same team in back-to-back years. Rask might well change that, though few would have him as the favorite this year. Jimmy Howard is coming on strong in the Calder race for top rookie, yet Rask is also a rookie and doesn’t seem to get as much Calder attention of late.

So, please vote and let us know in the comments if you’d like to justify your pick – especially if you go “off the board” – Jimmy Howard anyone? Martin Brodeur? Tomas Vokun? Nabby?

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