New York Islanders Robin Lehner Finalist For Vezina Trophy

The NHL announced the shortlist for the Vezina Trophy, and New York Islanders goalie Robin Lehner has been named as one of the finalists.

The awards keep coming for Robin Lehner. On Saturday, New York Islanders goalie Robin Lehner was named as one of the finalists for the NHL’s Vezina trophy awarded to the league’s best shot-stopper.

Lehner has already been short-listed for the league’s Masterton trophy and has already locked up the Jennings Trophy with teammate Thomas Greiss. With this Vezina nod, Lehner is on for a treble of trophies.

Can he win the Vezina trophy?

The Field

The two other finalists for the league’s top goalie award are Dallas Stars’ Ben Bishop and Tampa Bay Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy. It’ll be tough to sway General Managers who vote on the award.

Lehner has the stats to back his campaign. He ranks third for goals against average with a 2.13GAA. Ben Bishop ranks second (1.98), Vasilevskiy ranks ninth (2.40). In terms of save percentage, Lehner ranks second with a 0.930SV%. Bishop ranks first (0.934), Vasilevskiy ranks sixth (0.925).

Looking at those two stats alone Lehner has a good chance, although Ben Bishop beats him in both categories.

But wins are what voters typically look at when deciding the Vezina trophy. Lehner and his 25 wins ranks 19th in the NHL, Bishop and his 27 wins ranks 14th, Vasilevskiy and his 39 wins ranks at the top of the league.

(All stats can be found here, and all are for goalies who played at least 30 games.)

Lehner’s been fantastic between the sticks for the New York Islanders and has been a huge factor in their push to the playoffs. But then again, Thomas Greiss also had a massive part to play in the Isles returning to the playoffs. That could potentially be a negative on Lehner’s claim to the Vezina.

It’s a great field and incredible for Lehner to be part of it. I didn’t think that Lehner would get the Vezina nod this season. He just didn’t have the wins I thought. But here is on the league’s short list for the top goalie.

Even if he doesn’t come away with the award in Vegas this June, it’s an incredible nod on an incredible season that still isn’t over for Robin Lehner. He’s deserved this Vezina nod.