Shesterkin Favored To Win NHL Vezina Trophy

Igor Shesterkin is looking to get paid and oddsmakers are showing through the Vezina Trophy betting lines that they are of the belief that this will provide the New York Rangers goaltender with a certain amount of incentive.

The Rangers netminder is the +450 favorite to win the award that goes to the NHL's most valuable puckstopper. Shesterkin wants to be rewarded as the NHL's best goalie, rumored to be seeking a new contract that will pay him $12 million per season. And what better way to help guarantee the arrival of such a stipend than to win the Vezina, offering proof that he is in fact the NHL's best goalie right now?

Vezina Trophy Odds
Igor Shesterkin	+450	+450	+450
Connor Hellebuyck	+650	+650	+650
Jake Oettinger	+750	+750	+750
Jeremy Swayman	+850	+850	+850
Juuse Saros	+850	+850	+850
Jacob Markstrom	+1100	+1100	+1100
Andrei Vasilievskiy	+1200	+1200	+1200
Sergei Bobrovsky	+1500	+1500	+1500
Ilya Sorokin	+1800	+1800	+1800
Linus Ullmark	+1800	+1800	+1800
Thatcher Demko	+1800	+1800	+1800

Before we take a deeper dive into the NHL Vezina Trophy futures and best bets, why not check out our handy NHL betting guide to see where the best NHL odds and picks are located. As well, these online sportsbook reviews will help you determine which betting site is the one that's going to service your NHL wagering needs on a comprehensive basis. And if you're someone who is living life on the move, these are the best sports betting apps that can help you get your NHL bets down in the midst of your busy schedule.

Several Past Winners Among Vezina Trophy Picks

The second betting choice in the Vezina Trophy odds at +650 is Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets. He was last season's Vezina winner.

Shesterkin won the award in 2021-22. Other previous Vezina winners among the contenders are Tampa Bay's Andrei Vasilveskiy (+1100), Florida's Sergei Bobrovsky (+1500) and Linus Ullmark (+1800) of the Ottawa Senators.

Igor Shesterkin (+450)

Shesterkin will be looking to repeat the spectacular 2021-22 season he enjoyed during his previous win in the Vezina Trophy race. The 2021-22 NHL season was a remarkable campaign for Shesterkin.

Highest total value for a goalie contract in NHL history:

$88m — The contract Igor Shesterkin rejected
$84m — Carey Price
$76m — Andrei Vasilevskiy
$70m — Sergei Bobrovsky
$67.5m — Rick Dipietro

The goalie market might get insane pretty soon. pic.twitter.com/vrUOXUhjIJ

— Big Head Hockey (@BigHeadHcky) October 8, 2024

During regular season play, he would post a 2.09 GAA and .935 save percentage. Not only would that performance earn him the Vezina Trophy, he'd also garner selection to the NHL’s First All-Star Team. His save percentage was the third-best ever turned in by an NHL goalie. Shesterkin trailed only Boston’s Tim Thomas (.938, 2010-11) and Buffalo’s Dominik Hasek (.937 in 1998-99) on the all-time list.

Connor Hellebuyck (+650)

While winning the Vezina last season, Hellebuyck would wind up second in the NHL with 37 wins. He was also second in save percentage (.921) among goalies who made a minimum of 25 appearances.

Hellebuyck also won the Vezina following the 2019-20 NHL season.

 Jake Oettinger (+750)

Just as the Stars have been hovering around as legit Stanley Cup contenders, you can't discount the Vezina potential of Oettinger.

Only 25, he's already played 195 NHL games. Oettinger's career stats include a 2.49 GAA and .914 save percentage.

Jeremy Swayman (+850)

Swayman was the goalie who got paid this year. The Boston Bruins gave their young netminder an NHL-record eight-year, $66-million pact.

Last season. Swayman was 25-10-8 with a 2.53 GAA, .916 save percentage and three shutouts. This will be his first season as a true No. 1 goalie, so it might be a bit early to be betting him in the Vezina picks.

Juuse Saros (+850)

No team loaded up as much as the Nashville Predators. They added UFAs Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault and steady defender Brady Skjei to a group that already includes Saros and Norris Trophy winner Roman Josi.

Juuse Saros To win Vezina Trophy

+850

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A two-time NHL All-Star, Saros was a Vezina Trophy finalist in 2021-22.

Jacob Markstrom (+1100)

Arguably the most intriguing of all the Vezina contenders. Markstrom is moving to the New Jersey Devils from Calgary. The Devils missed the playoffs last season and weak goaltending was root cause of their failure.

If Markstrom lifts the Devils back into the postseason, he'll certainly be likely to be getting a lot of love from the NHL GMs who vote on the Vezina winner.

Vezina Trophy Longshots To Consider

Ullmark was the Vezina winner with the Bruins in 2022-23. He's now with the Ottawa Senators following an offseason trade. If he were to backstop the young Sens to a playoff spot, Ullmark could find himself in the Vezina conversation.

Bobrovsky is a two-time winner (2012-13, 2016-17). As goalie for the reigning Stanley Cup champion Panthers, the Russian puckstopper will be discussed in the Vezina best bets.

Vasilevskiy won the Vezina in 2018-19. However, the Lightning aren't the team they were then, so it's unlikely he'll be a factor in this season's Vezina picks.

Vezina Trophy Best Bet

The Rangers are the +200 favorites to win the Metropolitan Division. They are also top contenders in both the Eastern Conference and Stanley Cup odds.

All of these factors will work in Shersterkin's corner as he battles for both a record-breaking contract and his second Vezina Trophy win.

Igor Shesterkin To win Vezina Trophy

+450

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It's not always the best strategy to bet the favorite, but in this case, Shesterkin is the best bet. He's looking to show the hockey world that he's the world's best goalie and is the kind of player who thrives when the pressure is on and the expectations are high.