John Toperzer: Putting A Flower In The Vezina Trophy
Marc-Andre Fleury is tied with Nashville's Pekka Rinne for the lead in goalie wins heading down the stretch

first

Great goalie, but i think it goes down to Lundqvist
Halak and fleury runner ups. Halaks been putting up huge numbers, but how much of that is from the system. Does the system get taken into account for voting?

Amen John. There was a nitwit Buffalo fan on this blog last week who was trying to make the argument that leading the league in victories shouldn't be a consideration to awarding the Vezina...to which I responded by asking how many 9 game winners win the Cy Young Award. Anyone who watches MAF play on a regular basis knows how valuable he truly is. The Penguins goals against average is almost a full goal lower in games he starts. If he's not at least a finalist this year, it will be criminal.

Really good stats you bring up John. He definitely should be mentioned as a goalie who could win it. My vote however still would go to Lundqvist.

All respect to Fleury and what he does for the Penguins season-in season-out, but he doesn't deserve the Vezina.

All respect to Fleury and what he does for the Penguins season-in season-out, but he doesn't deserve the Vezina.
- TheOne

care to back that claim up?

Great goalie, but i think it goes down to Lundqvist
Halak and fleury runner ups. Halaks been putting up huge numbers, but how much of that is from the system. Does the system get taken into account for voting?
- david22

Re Halak: I'm sorry, but I can't give the trophy to a guy who only has 43 starts at this point in the year.

I don't think anyone will doubt his nomination when it comes, especially since all you have to say is the "no crosby argument"

At this point if anything differs from the following finalists then something is wrong

Lundquist
Quick
Fleury

Lundquist should and will win. He is that team's MVP by far, and he has been the best goalie in hockey this year.

I don't think anyone will doubt his nomination when it comes, especially since all you have to say is the "no crosby argument"

At this point if anything differs from the following finalists then something is wrong

Lundquist
Quick
Fleury

Lundquist should and will win. He is that team's MVP by far, and he has been the best goalie in hockey this year.
- Alcatraz

This ^

Re Halak: I'm sorry, but I can't give the trophy to a guy who only has 43 starts at this point in the year.
- Emperor Filonius

I did say lundqvist should win . What about rinne though, he plays a ton of games and he's a fantastic goalie.

Got to admit, I'm pretty bitter that the Pens didn't start Fleury against Ottawa on Saturday (I understand it, but it sucks for Caps/Sabres fans).

Great goalie and great season.

But I personally don't think he gets nominated. The King will win, with Quick and Rinne the runner ups.

I think a very solid case can be made for Henrik, but MAF should at least merit serious consideration and should absolutely be a finalist.

Lundy, Quick, Smith.

I did say lundqvist should win . What about rinne though, he plays a ton of games and he's a fantastic goalie.
- david22

Rinne is very good and merits consideration. MAF has a better goals against average but Rinne has a better save %. I give the nod to MAF because he has the same number of wins in 10 fewer starts.

Lundy, Quick, Smith.
- Blackstrom2

Re Smith: Could you give the trophy to a guy whose team might not even make the playoffs?

Re Smith: Could you give the trophy to a guy whose team might not even make the playoffs?
- Emperor Filonius

That's not a consideration of the trophy, nor should it be.

You can replace Smith with one of MAF/Kipper/Rinne, but I think Smith deserves the nomination more.

It will be hard for any goalie to snatch the award away from Lundqvist given that he was in MVP discussions during certain stretches this season.

I think Fleury deserves a nomination for sure, with Lundqvist winning.

There is another trophy that I wouldn't rule out Fleury winning though, Conn Smythe.

Bryzgalov.

Lots of fans seem to feel the need to pick Fleury as the Pens weak point, they can't point at the forwards with the season long play of Malkin, Neal, Kunitz, Staal and Dupuis. The blueline is one that teams are envious with Michalek, Letang and Orpik, so it leaves Fleury.

Personally I'll take Fleury everyday over the overpaid (Luongo), system benfiting (Lundqvist, Rinne) and the just plain wierd (Bryzgalov).

Jonathan Quick is the only goalie that I consider in the same realm.

Re Smith: Could you give the trophy to a guy whose team might not even make the playoffs?
- Emperor Filonius

Couldnt the same be said about quick though?

Lots of fans seem to feel the need to pick Fleury as the Pens weak point, they can't point at the forwards with the season long play of Malkin, Neal, Kunitz, Staal and Dupuis. The blueline is one that teams are envious with Michalek, Letang and Orpik, so it leaves Fleury.

Personally I'll take Fleury everyday over the overpaid (Luongo), system benfiting (Lundqvist, Rinne) and the just plain wierd (Bryzgalov).

Jonathan Quick is the only goalie that I consider in the same realm.
- Ben37

I'd take fleury before Luo, bryz. Ahead of rinne and lundqvist though, not sure. I dont see him play as often as you though. Also, I think its fair to put Price in that same catagory, I think he has potential to be better too IMO

Couldnt the same be said about quick though?
- david22

Fair point.

I'd take fleury before Luo, bryz. Ahead of rinne and lundqvist though, not sure. I dont see him play as often as you though. Also, I think its fair to put Price in that same catagory, I think he has potential to be better too IMO
- david22

I find that both Rinne and Lunqvist benefit from the defensive coaching that both their teams have. I know Nashville has the 8th most goals this season, but they are a predominately defensive team. The Rangers block the most shots of any team in the league. Lundqvists story might be different if Dan Girardi wasn't blocking 8 shots a game.