During the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Aerys NHL writers have been revealing their picks for the NHL award categories. You can find the previous prognostics over on the side bar.

 I like to think that in hockey you’re only as good as the guy in front of the net aka the Goalie. Your offense can be great but if your Goaltender isn’t stopping the pucks on the other end of the ice, then you’re going to find yourself in trouble.

The Vezina Trophy is given to the Goaltender who is “”adjudged to be the best at this position.” In other words, it is given to the best Goalie in the league. So who decides just who the best Goalie is? Well unlike the other awards, the Vezina is voted by the General Managers of the 30 NHL teams, and not the media. I think that is especially important to note because these are the actual guys that are involved with the teams.

Last year Henrik Lundqvist took home the Vezina as Goalie for the New York Rangers. However, Aery’s predicted that LA Kings goalie/ UMass hockey royalty (sorry College bias here) Jonathan Quick would win. Lundqvist was number two for the Aery’s prediction.

Without anymore talk, here are this years Aery’s NHL Vezina Trophy predictions:

Sergei Bobrovsky (Columbus Blue Jackets):
It’s no secret that the Columbus team has a lot of work to do during the off season. But goaltending is something they won’t have to worry about.

Games Played: 38 (11th in League)
GAA: 2.00 (5th in League)
Save Percentage: .932 (2nd in League)
Wins : 21 (7th in League)
Shutouts: 4 (8th in League)
Proof of why he’s a candidate found here! 

Tuukka Rask (Boston Bruins):
Rask had big shoes to fill in Boston when former Vezina winner Tim Thomas left town. Needless to say it’s TUUKKA TIME in Boston with Rask leading the boys to the playoffs.

Games Played: 36 (15th in League)GAA: 2.00 (6th in League)
Save Percentage: .929 (3rd in League)
Wins : 19 (12th in League)
Shutouts: 5 (2nd in League)
Proof of why he’s a candidate found here!

Henrik Lundqvist (New York Rangers):
For a Rangers team that didn’t start the season off as well as they would have liked, Lundqvist remained consistent. He stats remained consistent and there’s a solid chance he’ll be going for a repeat victory for Vezina number two!

Games Played: 43 (2nd in League)
GAA: 2.05 (7th in League)
Save Percentage: .926 (5th in League)
Wins : 24 (1st in League)
Shutouts: 2 (20th in League)
Proof of why he’s a candidate found here!

Each of these three have qualities that make for a Vezina winner. If the Blue Jackets had made the playoffs, I would have immediately picked Bobrovsky. I still think he has a chance of winner, though I’m thinking Henrik might take home the trophy again. I can see Rask being a finalist (and this isn’t just my Bruins bias) but I don’t think he’s at the level Thomas was when he won with the Bruins back in the 2011 season.

Honorable Mentions:
Antti Niemi (San Jose Sharks), Cory Schneider (Vancouver Canucks), Ray Emery (Chicago Blackhawks)

Sergei Bobrovsky (Columbus Blue Jackets)

The Columbus Blue Jackets are only two points out of the playoffs for the first time in years and it is all in thanks to this man. Sergei Bobrovsky has been playing like a man possessed – or, in short, like a very, very good NHL goalie. The Jackets currently have the lowest goal/game ratio, with a large portion of their recent games going to extra time. Yes, they’re playing much better defensively than in years past, and are a hard-working, grinding team, but the real reason? Sergei Bobrovsky. After wilting in a back-up role in Philadelphia, a town notoriously hard on the position between the pipes, Bobrovsky has flourished in Columbus and firmly taken the #1 starter role. Philadelphia’s got to regret letting this one go.

After being named the NHL’s First Star of the Week with 0.77 GAA, .972SV%, and a shutout in four games, Bobrovsky has improved this week to a staggering 0.62 GAA, a .982SV%, and a shutout in three. I didn’t know that was actually possible.

Bobrovsky with his 2nd shutout puck, won against the Phoenix Coyotes on Mar 16, 2013.

The thing is, the Jackets probably didn’t even have the playoffs in their sights. This is a short season for the team before everything goes topsy-turvy with a move to the East and two changes in higher management that are sure to begin improving the franchise. But if Bobrovsky gets them there, he’ll deserve free dinner from his teammates for a very long time.

***

Ray Emery (Chicago Blackhawks)

The Chicago Blackhawks have it all. The Blackhawks have shown an astounding depth this season, rolling all four lines and having the defense contribute offensively on their way to a historic, record-breaking game winning streak. I mean, even ESPN talked about it. But it wouldn’t be possible without the dynamic duo of Chicago’s goaltenders, Ray Emery and Corey Crawford, keeping Chicago’s GA second lowest only to Ottawa. After a worrisome sophomore season, Crawford is also a candidate, but Emery is the story in the Windy City.

Ray Emery has stepped up in unimaginable ways. Last season, goaltending was Chicago’s weakest link. Nowadays shows quite a different tale. Emery has been the perfect back-up, playing reliably and backstopping Chicago even when Crawford was down and out with injury. After a potentially career-ending hip operation, Emery has bounced back and established himself among the best of the best. He is the first NHL goaltender in history to start a season 11-0. Yeah, this guy is still undefeated in regulation.

G Ray Emery against the Calgary Flames, Feb 2nd, 2013.

And the Blackhawks’ streak? Could very well have been broken in February 2nd’s game against Calgary, where the Hawks played some spectacularly uninspired hockey. Emery stole the win for the team, stopped 45 of 47 shots and somehow managed to remain standing through the shootout. Four for you, Ray Emery.

Welcome to Aerys Sports NHL 2012 Draft Center. This post will be updated throughout the night as teams draft the future of their franchises, as well as any trades that occur.

All times are in CT.

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