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So for those of you who’ve been around for a while, you miiiiight have figured out that I have a thing for goalies. A little. Maybe. OK FINE I DO. Sorry I’m not sorry. I wrote about our Blues bebe goalies yesterday. I’ve shown videos of crazy things our goalies and other goalies can and have done.

I have a Tim Thomas poster hanging in the second bedroom of my apartment.

Goalie love. I haz it.

As this year has progressed, I’ve paid more and more attention to goalies around the league. I’ve been just as amazed as all of you with Brian Elliott’s absolutely unearthly surge this year, with Cam Ward’s horrendous plummet to earth. I’ve specifically chosen backup goalies for my fantasy lineup (Cory Schneider) in the possibly vindictive hope that his team’s number one goalie (Roberto Luongo) fails mightily over and over again. It’s worked well for me so far.

Given that we’re half way through the year, the season started back up tonight, and all over the place you’ll hear news outlets pull the “if the playoffs started now….” predictions, I figured that I’d do the same for the upcoming Vezina Trophy. I wrote about this last year, and while I’m thrilled to have gotten two out of three correct, I still maintain that Henrik Lundqvist deserved the nod more than LOLuongo. I also still think it’s awesome that the media has nothing to do with the voting for this. I might be a teensy bit upset if that ever changes.

Top three then? Top three.

Photo courtesy of Brittney Stein

Games Played: 23 (33rd in League)

GAA: 1.69 (1st in League)

Save Percentage: .938 (1st in League)

Wins: 15 (20th in League)

Shutouts: 5 (tied for 2nd in League)

Proof of his greatness found here

Ok, hear me out on this one. I know that this choice makes me seem like a massive homer (which, admittedly, I might be just a little bit), but I think my argument is valid. He’s ranked at the top of two BIG goalie categories, coming in second on arguably the third most important. I don’t think there is a single person who has actually paid attention to the Blues this year that would be willing to dare say that he hasn’t had a remarkable impact on this team.

The Blues are fighting for the top of not only their division, but their conference too, and that speaks volumes given the team’s recent history. Yes, he’s played fewer games than many other number one goalies in the league, but he’s stood up to the test and has shown just how valuable he could be to a team. Oh, and? He’s the BACK-UP GOALIE. I fall in love with the Elliott/Jaroslav Halak tandem more and more every single time I watch my team play. So yes. Elliott for Vezina. Someone make me a button.

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Photo courtesy of Bridget Samuels

2. Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings:

Games Played: 42 (7th in League)

GAA: 1.97 (4th in League)

Save Percentage: .934 (4th in League)

Wins: 21 (7th in League)

Shutouts: 6 (1st in League)

Proof of his greatness found here

Quick is just one of those goalies you really can’t hate. He’s quietly helped his team stay in playoff contention, and though (and maybe this is just me) news on the Kings has been scarce this year, Quick’s always a goalie you know the Kings count on. I mean, hell, he might even be a Jedi. He’s in the top 10 in all but two goalie categories, those two being losses and goals against, which I must say, those aren’t bad categories to NOT be in the top ten for. He’s young, he’s determined, and he’s a fantastic goalie.

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Photo courtesy of Sarah Connors

1. Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers:

Games Played: 36 (13th in League)

GAA: 1.87 (3rd in League)

Save Percentage: .937 (3rd in League)

Wins: 22 (5th in League)

Shutouts: 5 (tied for 2nd in League)

Proof of his greatness found here

King Henrik is just, well, he’s just King Henrik. As the only goalie to ever accomplish the feat of winning 30 or more games in his first six seasons (2005-06 to 2010-11), and looking like he’s well on his way to that seventh season of the same, he’s a goalie that young players strive to be. He holds the record for most shutouts by a New York Ranger goalie at Madison Square Garden. He holds the Winter Olympics record of most consecutive minutes without allowing a goal (172+ minutes from 2006-2010 Olympics). He’s helped his team to the top of the League standings, and though he has three Vezina nominations under his belt, he’s never won.

I was fortunate enough to be at the game when the Rangers were in St Louis, and though my boys lit him up for four goals, it was still amazing to just see him play. The way he can almost just sense the puck blew me away. He’s a force to be reckoned with, top five in all major goalie categories, and a definite contender for this trophy. I can’t wait to see what he can do over the second half of the year.

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Honorable Mentions:

Jimmy Howard, Detroit Red Wings; Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins; Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators

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Winner:

Henrik Lundqvist. For all the reasons listed above and more. Even though we’re only half way through the season, he’s showing no signs of slowing down. I honestly think that this is his year to take home that most coveted goalie trophy.

Just under five months until we find out just how right I am.

Who do you think should win?