Who deserves to win the 2023 Vezina Trophy?

Connor Hellebuyck, Ilya Sorokin and Linus Ullmark were recently named the Vezina Trophy Finalists. Former NHL goaltender and now analyst Mike McKenna breaks down the list and talks about who deserves to take the special honor home:

Tyler Yaremchuk: A mini blue paint on the three goalies that are up for the Vezina. It’s Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets, Sorokin of the New York Islanders and Ullmark of the Boston Bruins. It feels like this is Ullmark’s award to lose. You look at the goals against average, and you look at the save percentage because it’s the general managers who vote on it; you also just kind of look at wins as you know there will be some old-school guys who will put a lot of value in that. Mike, are you going to be shocked if Ullmark doesn’t win this award, or am I reading this wrong? 

Mike McKenna: Oh yeah, Ullmark had this thing sewed up in January, and that’s how it works. Whoever is leading everything by that point without the wheels completely falling off usually wins. You said it too, it’s the general managers who vote on it, and I’ll let you know something, Tyler, they don’t know sh*t about goaltending, and they’ll tell you as much. So letting them to chose who wins the Vezina is mind-numbing for goalies. 

Mike McKenna: Ullmark did have an unbelievable season, though; a .938 save percentage is very hard to argue, and less than two goals against. But here’s the thing, the second half of the season was largely mirrored by his goaltending partner Jeremy Swayman. Ullmark only played 49 games; that’s my hang-up. I still think he wins it.

But Sorokin would be my vote; he played 62 games and had a .924 save percentage like he really willed the Islanders into the playoffs single-handedly. He was third in goals saved above expected too. He would be my pick, I don’t think Hellebuyck was far off either, but he did have a dip about 3/4 into the year. So, hey, three great goaltenders, but this was done in January, and general managers mailed it in; it’s Ullmark, and there’s no chance anyone else wins it. 

Tyler Yaremchuk: I’m going to put you on the spot, but who’s one goalie you think is not getting enough love here? 

Mike McKenna: Juuse Saros. Immediately would be my answer. The Predators didn’t make the playoffs, but how close did they come, and who was that because of? It wasn’t because of their best players being their best players aside from Saros this season. He would be my pick for a fourth slot.