Connor Hellebuyck, Ilya Sorokin, Linus Ullmark named finalists for 2023 Vezina Trophy

Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets, Ilya Sorokin of the New York Islanders and Linus Ullmark of the Boston Bruins have been named finalists for the 2023 Vezina Trophy, the NHL has announced.

The Vezina Trophy is awarded annually to the league’s top goaltender. NHL general managers vote on the honor, which New York Rangers goalkeeper Igor Shesterkin won.

Hellebuyck is a three-time finalist of the award, losing out to Pekka Rinne in 2018 before winning it in 2020. Hellebuyck was a big reason why the Jets qualified for the playoffs, posting a 37-25-2 record with a .920 save percentage and four shutouts. Hellebuyck has one year left on his six-year deal worth $6.16 million.

Sorokin has never been a finalist, but had a 31-22-7 record with a .924 save percentage with the Islanders this season. He led the league with six shutouts to help the Islanders clinch the top wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Sorokin could become just the second goaltender in Islanders history to win the Vezina Trophy, with Billy Smith (1982) being the only other to do so.

Ullmark had the best season statistically, recording a 40-6-1 record through 49 games. Together with Jeremy Swayman, the pair won the Williams M. Jennings Trophy while allowing the fewest regular season goals. The Bruins had 65 wins and 135 points this year, the most in a single NHL season. Pete Peeters (1983), Tim Thomas (2009 and 2011) and Tuukka Rask (2014) have won the Vezina while with the Bruins.

Jacques Plante holds the NHL record with seven Vezina Trophy wins, with Dominik Hasek and Bill Durnan both winning six.

The winner will be revealed live during the 2023 NHL Awards in Nashville on Monday, June 26. The league still has one more batch of finalists to announce, with the final three for the Hart Trophy set to be announced tomorrow evening.