Backstrom, Mason, Thomas vie for Vezina

[40#1Fan 0]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=420301&...vid=DL|NHL|Home

Steve Mason, the brilliant young goalie of the Columbus Blue Jackets, could become only the fifth NHL player to win the Vezina and Calder trophies in the same year.

But he'll have to beat out the Minnesota Wild's Niklas Backstrom, and Tim Thomas, whose league-leading goals-against average was a driving force for the Eastern Conference champion Boston Bruins this season.

[rage 24]

Mason!

[edicius 3,269]

Buh-buh-buh, what about Lord Roberto?

Seriously, I think those three are fantastic picks. Glad that Brodeur didn't somehow sneak in a la Niedermayer at that one All-Star Game.

[Guest Shoreline]

Between Thomas and Mason, it's tough. Mason was everything for Columbus' run to the playoffs. It simply does not happen without Mason. Boston, on the other hand.. that's debatable. Despite how they are awesome in different stats, it's likely going to come down to if the voters are going to vote a rookie in on a Vezina when he's already a shoe-in for the Calder. Backstrom is obviously the odd man out here, and between Thomas and Mason.. it looks like Mason had the tougher climb so I'd say Mason would get my vote, but I think the voters will go with Thomas due to his GAA/Save%.

Edited April 27, 2009 by Shoreline

[rage 24]

Between Thomas and Mason, it's tough. Mason was everything for Columbus' run to the playoffs. It simply does not happen without Mason. Boston, on the other hand.. that's debatable. Despite how they are awesome in different stats, it's likely going to come down to if the voters are going to vote a rookie in on a Vezina when he's already a shoe-in for the Calder. Backstrom is obviously the odd man out here, and between Thomas and Mason.. it looks like Mason had the tougher climb so I'd say Mason would get my vote, but I think the voters will go with Thomas due to his GAA/Save%.

Or they could give it to Mason due to his SO's.

Could go either way I suppose.

[hak 21]

MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONnnnnn.....

[Vincanni 1]

An interesting cast call this year considering both Luongo and Brodeur missed significant time due to njury.

[Canadian_Yzerman_Fan 7]

How are Osgood and Conklin not both nominated?!?!?!

But even if they were, Bettman would probably ignore the ballot and just give it to Crosby! ... Man, the NHL hates the Red Wings! Ugh!

Also, please take it upon yourselves to apply this exact same post to the upcoming Hart Trophy thread, but with the entire Red Wings roster added to the names of our goalies.

[puckloo39 5,686]

How are Osgood and Conklin not both nominated?!?!?!

But even if they were, Bettman would probably ignore the ballot and just give it to Crosby! ... Man, the NHL hates the Red Wings! Ugh!

Also, please take it upon yourselves to apply this exact same post to the upcoming Hart Trophy thread, but with the entire Red Wings roster added to the names of our goalies.

I would go with Thomas, personally, but there's strong arguement for Mason. The BJs would certainly not have had the season they did without their Kid in Goal. It will be interesting to see if he has the ability to maintain this level of play consistently in coming years. He might succumb to the Theodore Factor and disappear. I hope not.

It's harder than the truly elite ones make it look, to play Vezina calibre hockey season after season. Hence, only a few perform at the level of Wahhh, Brodeur and Hasek.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Its Thomas.

[SoDakWing 8]

I'm sure Thomas will get this. Mason was amazing but I don't think he'll get it.

[SDavis35 140]

I feel Thomas deserves it, he was much more consistent throughout the season. Best GAA and Sv% (i think) and I feel like he's got a huge impact on his team as well. All reason enough for him to win it. Mason was solid, but wasn't super impressive as the season closed out, but 10 shutouts is still very impressive.

[interminded 1]

10 Shutouts is really something, but if you look at his numbers, he's very inconsistent.

Tim Thomas should be the winner.

He was solid as a rock this season, every single game.

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

Thomas. Mason is lucky the voting was done before the playoffs.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Thomas. Mason is lucky the voting was done before the playoffs.

And hes not so lucky that the Vezina is voted on by GMs. They don't go with the sexy pick like the media does.

[T-Ruff 47]

It'll be Thomas, Columbus wouldn't be as lost without Mason as some people think, IMO... i.e. I think they still would've been around the playoff picture if say, when Leclaire went down, they had to grab Gerber or something.... (To reiterate a post I made previously):

Part of the credit for his work this year belongs to Hitchcock and his defensively sound system.

Even last year the Blue Jackets were 9th in the league in goals against, despite finishing 24th overall (dead last in goals for). Leclaire is a great goalie as well, but I don't think its a coincidence that he also had 9 shutouts last year (to Mason's 10)

The fact that the Jackets were 7th in the West is not directly a function of Steve Mason, but of the fact that the rest of the team is much better around him than it was around Leclaire last season, while the exceptional goaltending remained constant... (eg This season the Jackets were still 9th in GA, but jumped up 9 spots in GF)

Concerning the shutouts, they are often just as much a team stat as they are a goalie stat. This is the case in 4 of Mason's shutouts in which he faced 20 shots or less (15, 17, 19, 20).... (the rest are 24, 26, 27, 33, 35, 45 for the record)

When we look at SV% (in which Mason is tied for 11th with a solid .916) we find Miller (.918), Chris Mason (.916), and Rinne (.917), Smith (.916), Vokoun(.926)/Anderson(.924), with similar or better SV% on teams that are arguably worse defensively....

Not trying to discredit Steve Mason, his accomplishments, or his great potential... But he shouldn't win the Vezina this year....

Edited April 27, 2009 by T-Ruff

[Kwame_Kilpatrick 0]

i am surprised mason was picked he was pretty much equivalent to an earlytwentieth century lightbulb in effectiveness by the end of the season... backstrom is another overrated fin. Thomas should win in a landslide unless bettman has a cricket bat in his arse

[M0DAN01999 6]

it has to be Thomas'

[TheOwl 77]

backstrom is another overrated fin.

No he's not, he's easily a top 5 goalie in the league. He plays for a terrible team with no decent back-up, much like the Kipper. An analogous situition would be Luongo in Florida. Everyone knew he was a great goalie playing for a terrible team.

Obviously Thomas will win. Mason has an out-side chance.

Edited April 28, 2009 by TheOwl

[toby91_ca 620]

An interesting cast call this year considering both Luongo and Brodeur missed significant time due to njury.

Luongo played the same number of games as Thomas and only 7 fewer than Mason. I wouldn't be surprised if he finishes 4th in voting.

[shadow47 1]

Everybody is saying, oh, where would Columbus be without Mason? I believe the trophy you're all looking for is the Hart. Using your criteria Kiprusoff should win Vezina. McElhinney 0-9? Yeah.

[shadow47 1]

btw what was the last time a goalie from a non-playoff team was a finalist for top goalie? You used to be able to lead the league in save percentage not make the playoffs and barely get a vote.

[Vladiator 116]

Glad that Mason is a finalist .... when do the announcements come out for the Selke and the Hart? Hope Pavs is a finalist in both of those.

[C-TownWing 0]

Seems like a good place to express my total mancrush on Tim Thomas.

[Ms_Hockey 0]

Seems like a good place to express my total mancrush on Tim Thomas.

Agreed, except womancrush based purely on goaltending. <3<3<3