While there have been some hiccups here and there, the 2021-22 NHL season has almost reached its halfway point. By now, most players have had nearly half a season to prove why they deserve to win one of the league’s individual awards at the end of the campaign, including the Vezina Trophy.
The Vezina is awarded each year to the NHL’s best goalie. Considering how there are only a few awards that goaltenders are eligible for, it’s understandable why winning it is one of the most coveted honors.
BetOnline has updated its NHL award odds and is currently listing Toronto Maple Leafs G Jack Campbell as the +400 favorite to win the 2021-22 Vezina Trophy.
Campbell was a late-bloomer, with many wondering if he’d ever crack an NHL roster on a consistent basis after a strong junior career. However, the Maple Leafs gave him a chance to be their starter last season and he hasn’t looked back since.
The 30-year-old boasts an 18-5-3 record in 26 starts this season. While that’s certainly impressive, so is the fact that his .935 save percentage (SV%) ranks second-best in the league, while his 2.02 goals-against average (GAA) has him sitting third. Campbell has also recorded a career-high four shutouts this season and leads the NHL with 20.9 goals saved above average (GSAA).
Toronto is easily one of the best teams this season, which has benefited Campbell a lot. Unless he and the team suffer an unexpected collapse, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be in the Vezina Trophy conversation right until the end of the year.
Andrei Vasilevskiy (+450) Sits Second for Vezina
Although Campbell is leading BetOnline’s Vezina Trophy odds race at +400, Tampa Bay Lightning G Andre Vasilevskiy isn’t too far behind him at +450.
Vasilevskiy is no stranger to the award, having been a finalist for it in each of the past four seasons. He won it for the first time in his career during the 2018-19 season, so winning it a second time would have him join an exclusive list of multi-time winners.
Nevertheless, the 6-foot-3 Russian goaltender is having another season to remember. He’s started off the campaign by going 20-6-3, with him being the NHL wins leader so far. He’s posted a .924 SV% and 2.19 GAA, which are fairly close to the statistics that helped him finish second in Vezina Trophy voting last season.
The Lightning are 4-3-2 when Vasilevskiy doesn’t start this season, which further illustrates his importance to the team. Tampa Bay is one of the best teams in the league and the 27-year-old is one of the main factors — making him a credible candidate for the Vezina Trophy.
Vezina Trophy Odds: Igor Shesterkin (+500)
While his career is still young, there was no indication that New York Rangers G Igor Shesterkin was going to be a Vezina Trophy contender this season. After all, he entered the season with just 47 NHL appearances under his belt.
Fast forward to the second weekend of January and he’s already one of the top goalies in the league. The 26-year-old Moscow native has tallied a 15-4-2 record in his first 21 appearances of the 2021-22 campaign, putting up a 2.09 GAA and a league-best .936 SV% along with a pair of shutouts.
There’s no doubt that Shesterkin is playing above expectation, leaving many to wonder if he can continue his performance throughout the second half of the season. Only time will tell if he can, however, it looks like he has a good chance of getting it done. If he proves to be the real deal, the Rangers’ crease will be set for years to come with a perennial Vezina Trophy candidate.
2021-22 Vezina Trophy Odds Tracker
Odds via BetOnline as of Wednesday, January 12
- Jack Campbell (+400)
- Andrei Vasilevskiy (+450)
- Igor Shesterkin (+500)
- Juuse Saros (+900)
- Connor Hellebuyck (+1200)
- Jacob Markstrom (+1200)
- Frederik Andersen (+1400)
- Sergei Bobrovsky (+1600)
- Tristan Jarry (+1800)
- Robin Lehner (+2000)
- Darcy Kuemper (+2800)
- Thatcher Demko (+2800)
The complete odds list is available at BetOnline.ag.
