NHL Vezina Trophy Odds: Connor Hellebuyck Leads Way Through First Half

The 2023-24 NHL season is nearing the halfway point with a lot of questions remaining.

One of the big ones is the Vezina Trophy race. As we've seen throughout the first half, a lot of goalies have had big starts to the year. And they are fighting for the trophy to be seen as the best in the league. It should make for an incredibly exciting second half, so let's dive in.

Here's a look at the Vezina Trophy odds per FanDuel Sportsbook.

NHL Vezina Trophy Odds

Connor Hellebuyck (+300)

The Winnipeg Jets have been one of the impressive surprises of the 2023-24 season, rolling out to a 24-9-4 record through their first 37 games. A major reason for that has been the play of Connor Hellebuyck.

Winnipeg's netminder has been excellent so far this season. As one of the few goalies who still plays the majority of his team's games, Hellebuyck has opened up his year with a 19-6-3 record in his first 28 starts.

And in those 28 starts, Hellebuyck has totaled a 2.28 goals against average (4th-best) and .921 save percentage (7th-best). He also leads the NHL in goals saved above expectation with 19.72.

Ultimately, Hellebuyck has done everything right, and if he can do this in the second half, then there's no reason to believe that he won't add a second Vezina Trophy to his resume by season's end.

Thatcher Demko (+350)

Thatcher Demko has been a big reason why the Vancouver Canucks have been such a great team, and it's why he has been the favorite for much of the season and isn't far off from Hellebuyck.

Demko led the NHL in goals saved above expectation, but in recent games, he's dropped to 3rd with 17.73. The Canucks' top netminder places in the top 10 with his 2.47 goals against average (9th) and .918 save percentage (7th).

He's worked up to a record of 18-8-1 for the Pacific Division-leading Canucks. It should be said that he's had a rougher stretch over his last five games, allowing three or more goals in four. That is a big reason the odds have changed, and based on his career, the numbers could begin to go south, as his career stats come in at a 2.84 goals against average and .911 save percentage.

But if Demko can keep up the positive numbers that he's had throughout, then he has a real shot. He has some really tough competition to overcome.

Cam Talbot (+650)

The journeyman goaltender has found his home, and as a result, he's playing some of his best hockey for one of the NHL's best teams.

Cam Talbot has been looked to for a long time as a one-to-two-year answer in the net before teams have moved on from his services. It's odd considering his career 2.62 goals against average and .914 save percentage, but that's how it has gone. Thankfully for him, his play has been appreciated as a member of the Los Angeles Kings, and it's placed him right in the middle of the Vezina Trophy conversation.

On the season, Talbot is 14-8-3, but his 2.10 goals against average and .925 save percentage both place top-three in the entire NHL. His play has helped the Kings to allow the fewest Goals Against per 60 minutes (2.34), as well. The 36-year-old is also 4th in goals saved above expectation (15.77).

Talbot will likely need to get more starts as the No. 1 in the second half to reach the likes of Demko and Hellebuyck, who are starting the majority of games for their respective teams. Based on his usage, especially since the first month, Talbot should get himself heavily into the conversation if his numbers remain atop the league's best.

Jeremy Swayman (+700)

If Jeremy Swayman was starting every three out of four games, he may very well be the favorite with how great the Boston Bruins are doing this season. But considering he splits time with last season's Vezina Trophy winner, Linus Ullmark, it's hard to see him taking over unless his numbers start to lead in both categories by season's end.

Through 19 games, the 25-year-old has shown that he is one of the best goalies in the league with an 11-3-4 record to go along with his 2.43 goals against average. Add in the impressive .922 save percentage that would be a career-best to really appreciate how good he's been.

Like the other three goalies on this list, he's top-10 in both goals against average and save percentage. It'll be tough for him to make up the ground with Hellebuyck, Demko, and Talbot all having more starts than him, though, which is why it's best to look at those three at this stage in the campaign.

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