One of the primary ways that certain nations have attained notoriety is through sports. Some countries are found to be good in certain sports, and Canada is the best when it comes to hockey. In Canada, hockey is frequently referred to as the national sport, and its significance is fairly high. On the one hand, this shapes a healthy habit for individuals who like this type of activity and defines the national identity of Canadians.
In fact, hockey is a major source of national pride in Canada, and there have been times in history when Canada’s hockey heritage has defined its position in international discussions. From the frozen ponds of small towns to the bright lights of NHL arenas, this sport with rich tradition has a special place in the hearts of countless passionate fans.
And so, as the NHL season enters its second half, it is a perfect time to take a closer look at the most important race of the season, the Vezina Trophy race and see how the betting market stands. For those who also enjoy online gambling, free spins casinos are a great deal while waiting for the resolution of the season. Meanwhile, a lot has changed since the season started in October, there are now several top goaltenders in the contest for the award.
The famous Vezina Trophy
To emphasize the value of this trophy, let us go back almost 100 years, all the way to 1926–27 when the first Vezina Trophy was awarded. The first trophy was awarded to honor the late Georges Vezina, a goaltender who passed away in 1925. The original rules stated that the award would be given to the goaltender who played the most games for the team that allowed the fewest goals.
However, this rule was later changed to the goaltender deemed the best by the NHL’s general managers. Ever since then, multiple names have won the Vezina Trophy, but the Canadian Jacques Plante is the leader on the list with seven Vezina awards during his rich career. Right behind him are Dominik Hasek and Martin Brodeur who both won the prestigious award six times.
2022–23 Vezina Trophy Race
The 2023 Vezina Trophy race is shaping up to be a close one, with several top goaltenders in contention. The unpredictability of the award is so high, that Rangers goalie had the best odds before the season started, and now he’s fifth. Bruins’ goalie Linus Ullmark had very low odds before the season started, yet now he is in the frontrunner place with his odds being -150.
The top is quite crowded, given that many goaltenders are highly motivated by this prestigious award. There’s seven goalies who are separated from the rest of the NHL. This includes Ullmark and Shesterkin, as well as Ilya Sorokin, Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger, Andrei Vasilevskiy, and Juuse Saros.
Each of these goalies have been critical for their teams as they prepare for the second half push to the playoffs. Looking at results shows just how important they have been in keeping the puck out of the net and gaining points in the standings.
It is worth mentioning that the Vezina Trophy race is always a close one, with many talented goaltenders vying for the prestigious award. The 2023 race is no different, with several top candidates in contention. It will be interesting to see who comes out on top as the best goaltender in the NHL. With the second half of the season just starting, there is still a lot of hockey to be played and plenty of time for the odds to change. However, one thing is for sure, the Vezina Trophy race will be one to watch and the competition will be fierce.
