Updated: Another Vezina for Marty? Vezina Finalists Announced

by Matthew Ventolo on Apr 12, 2010 8:56 PM EDT

UPDATED: I originally had Marty with 9 other goalies, but NHL.com released the finalists today here. So here's the updated post.

A few weeks ago, many of you including myself thought this may be a reach, but now Marty is a finalist (I think for the 11th time). With his recent play though, does it seem he could be the front runner for his 5th Vezina Trophy in 7 seasons?

I took Martin Brodeur's, Ryan Miller's, and Ilya Bryzgalov's stats and compared them. The statistics I took were Games Played, Wins, Winning %, GAA, Save %, and Shutouts. Note: Winnging % is equal. to (Wins) / (Wins + Loses + OT Loses); I did this because one may play in a game or start a game, but still not get the decision.

Player GP

M. Brodeur (NJD)   77
I. Bryzgalov (PHX)   69
R. Miller (BUF)        69

Player Wins

M. Brodeur (NJD) 45
I. Bryzgalov (PHX) 42
R. Miller (BUF) 41

Player Winning %

I. Bryzgalov (PHX)   .618
R. Miller (BUF)         .612
M. Brodeur (NJD)    .592

Player GAA

R. Miller (BUF)            2.22
M. Brodeur (NJD)        2.24
I. Bryzgalov (PHX)      2.29

Player Save %

R. Miller (BUF)            .929
I. Bryzgalov (PHX)     .920
M. Brodeur (NJD)    .916

Players Shutouts

M. Brodeur (NJD)        9
I. Bryzgalov (PHX)      8
R. Miller (BUF)            5

Marty ranks 1st in GP, Wins, and SOs; 2nd in GAA; and last in Win % and Save %. R. Miller is at the top in GAA and Save %; 2nd in Win %; and last in GP, Wins, and SOs. Bryzgalov is 1st in Win %; 2nd in GP, Wins, Save %, and SOs; and last in GAA.

Marty ranks 1st in more categories than the other two goalies but his percentage stats aren't favorable. The three categories he does rank 1st in, the rankings goes (Marty, Brzygalov, Miller). That makes sense considering if you play more games, one can win more game, and if one wins more, you have the ability to get more shutouts.

What is good is that Marty, Bryzgalov, and Miller were the number 1 goalies and played almost the whole season. Does Miller and Bryzgalov get more of an edge because they were more valuable to there respective teams than Marty? Does Marty have an edge because the Devils #1 defensemen Paul Martin was out most of the season (I am really not up to date with BUF and PHX season injury report, so correct me if needed)? The Vezina Trophy is awarded to the "goalkeeper adjudged to be the best at this position as voted by the general managers of all NHL clubs." It doesn't go the most valued goalie, but the most outstanding one.

I think it's going to be a very close race this year. Marty broke a number of records this season to further his legendary HOF career. Miller was the best player at the Olympics and was a huge reason Team USA snatched a Silver Medal in Vancouver. Bryzgalov took the struggling franchise of Phoenix out of the tabloids and was the backbone of that making the playoffs and a top seed.

Let's discuss...

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Comments

Here are my finalists:
Miller, Broduer, Bryzgalov, Luongo, Howard?
I think it will come down to Miller and Broduer, but it will be very close.

Haven't been able to watch the Devils on TV since 2008

by Goalvalchuk on Apr 12, 2010 9:04 PM EDT reply actions

I don't mean to nitpick...

…since I catch myself making the same mistake here and there, especially during drunken text messages to my Pittsburgh Penguins friends but:

Brod-E-U-r.

Not Broduer.

This message has been brought to you by the letter E and then the letter U and the number 30. Thank you.

Trying to watch Devs games at 4pm is a PitA.

by SinDonor on Apr 12, 2010 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Shoot

Thats me typing fast, but I’m usually pretty good with typing his name right.

Haven't been able to watch the Devils on TV since 2008

by Goalvalchuk on Apr 12, 2010 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions

You bring up a good argument. With the seasons Miller and Bryzgalov had though, Brodeur is probably the underdog for the Vezina. But he should at least deserve to be a finalist or one of the top 5 in voting, Marty has been excellent in net, especially considering he missed most of last year with injury. He’s one of the best in net, but with voters in the MSM, stats seem to be everything, so Marty’s lower sv% might end up being the reason Miller and Bryz have the upper hand. Then again, if Marty doesn’t win, he’s still got 3 more Vezinas, 3 more stanley cups, and all sorts of records that those two may not reach.

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by Kevin Sellathamby on Apr 12, 2010 9:05 PM EDT reply actions

A quibble

The MSM voters mean nothing – the GMs vote for this one.

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by John Fischer on Apr 12, 2010 9:46 PM EDT up reply actions

really? I never knew. I guess it’s fair then

by Kevin Sellathamby on Apr 13, 2010 7:28 AM EDT up reply actions

I'd put my money on Miller

there was an article on Puck Daddy about this about a month ago.

The East votes pretty much like a bloc(k).

I’d put my money on Miller. Even though the olympics shouldn’t be too big of a factor in this, it undoubtedly will.

Never assume skill at bouncing a ball makes you smarter than the guy who built the court.

When there's a WILL there's a WAY

by Willgfass on Apr 12, 2010 10:22 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah

Olympics sealed it for Miller. Also, Devils proved last year we could it without Marty, but there’s no way Buffalo is where they’re at now without Miller.

Buffalo’s backup, Lalime went 4-8-2 during his time minding the twine. Not making the playoffs with those numbers.

Same could be said if we had Miller and Buffalo had Marty. I think we’d have similar records right now if our goalies were switched.

Trying to watch Devs games at 4pm is a PitA.

by SinDonor on Apr 12, 2010 11:08 PM EDT up reply actions

The Vezina Trophy is awarded to the “goalkeeper adjudged to be the best at this position as voted by the general managers of all NHL clubs.” It doesn’t go the most valued goalie, but the most outstanding one.

The GM’s understand that. The only thing Miller has over Marty is the percentage stats (Save and Winning). Miller’s GAA is .02 better than Marty’s, so they’re both relatively even. Marty has 8 more games played, 4 more wins and 4 more shutouts. So it’s pretty close statistically. Do the GM’s then pick on value (Miller)? Do they pick on history (Marty)?

by Matthew Ventolo on Apr 12, 2010 11:20 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s going to Miller or Bryzgalov

by Zelepukin on Apr 12, 2010 10:46 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed.

by elesias on Apr 13, 2010 8:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Miller should win it

Then Bryzgalov, Howard, and Nabokov, have an outside shot. As far as I can tell, they are the only players who are top 10 in at least 4 major categories, and top 5 in at least 2 (major categories= GP, Wins, Save%, GAA, SO, Win%)

I’d say Brodeur (11th in Save %, pulled 6 times) and Kiprusoff (top 10 in most categories, but only top 5 is GP, also, only 35 wins in 72 starts) fall just outside that group, and followed by Vokoun (15th in GAA), Rask (27th in GP, 23rd in Wins), and Halak (27th in GP, 17th in Wins), make up the second tier of goaltending this season; basically goaltenders who have played very well in stretches, but are lacking in some important category which makes them vulnerable to critique, and thus unlikely to win the Vezina.

None of the other goalies should warrant much consideration. Luongo ranks 18th in GAA and 16th in Save Percentage. In addition to playing in only 34 games, Niemi also ranks 19th in Save Perecentage.

by hocke26 on Apr 13, 2010 2:13 AM EDT reply actions

I think Miller probably gets it

While the rules posted says it does not go to the most valuable, I think it is hard not to take Miller’s value to Buffalo into play. Without him last year they did nothing. I think Marty’s lead in shutouts will make it close. I think Bryz will also get some consideration.

I don’t see how either Niemi, Rask or Halak get much consideration given their limited number of games played.

I am surprised you don’t have Lundqvuist up there. As much as I dislike the Rangers, that guy is solid solid solid.

Do they publish the votes?

by Devilssection21fan on Apr 13, 2010 11:14 PM EDT reply actions