NHL Awards Projections Part 2 Vezina

Part two of my NHL Awards Projection is the Vezina trophy.

  Vezina Trophy (Best Goalie)
(1) Ben Bishop: [38GP, 26W, .934Sv%, 1.96GAA]
  What a year Big Ben is having, Tampa Bay has found their starting net minder at last. After being dealt to Tampa for Corey Conacher last year at the trade deadline Bishop has been outstanding for the Lightning. He leads the league in save percentage and is third in both wins and goals against average. He has been a huge part of keeping Tampa Bay in contention for the Atlantic Division. Especially in the absence of Steven Stamkos. This team looks primed for a playoff run as long as Bishop keeps up what hes done thus far. Assuming he builds off his numbers in the first part of the season Bishop should win his first Vezina in what could be the most contested award of the year.

(2) Tuukka Rask [39GP,23W,.930Sv%, 2.08GAA]
  Tuukka Rask got off to a blazing start in his long awaited first full season as the undisputed guy in between the pipes for the Boston Bruins. After a remarkable playoff run that saw Rask fall just short of his second Stanley Cup (won cup as backup in 2011) last season. There is not a single person who would blame him for the Bruins six game loss to the Blackhawks. His incredible playoff performance and collective body of work led Boston GM Peter Chiarelli extending Rask to a lucrative long term deal. Tuukka fell on a bit of a rough patch a few weeks back but has since rebounded. If he can elevate himself to his 2013 playoff form there is no doubt he could win this years Vezina.

(3) Semyon Varlamov [42GP, 26W, .925Sv%, 2.43GAA]
  It looks as if Semyon Varlamov has fianlly become the guy Colorado thought he was when they trade a first and second round pick for him back in 2011. Under the tutelage of Hall of Fame goalie turned coach Patrick Roy, Varlamov has had a career year. With 26 wins on the season he finds himself sitting 3rd in the entire NHL. Assuming he doesn't falter down the stretch, and Colorado continues to play great hockey in front of him this is definitely a guy that warrants some Vezina consideration.

Honorable Mention: Antti Niemi, Josh Harding, Marc Andre-Fleury